Councillors have rejected a proposed site for a new care centre for vulnerable youngsters in Angus.
Land north of Carnoustie had been earmarked by New Breaks Ltd for a replacement to an existing facility in Arbroath but this was refused by Angus planners under delegated powers.
Following an appeal, elected officials met on Wednesday but agreed with the council’s planning department that the company must go back to the drawing board.
Its countryside location, connection to a private drainage system and worries over visibility at the approach to the site were all deemed to be issues.
Councillor Bob Myles said some aspects of the plan appeared positive but he could not overlook access dangers.
He said: “It was helpful to have the site visit to put everything in perspective.
“In certain parts of the refusal, I would question the flood risk. In my mind, it’s irrelevant and a red herring.
“If that site was to flood then half of Angus would be under water.
“The proximity to the road and the speed that traffic is going there, accessibility would be on a dangerous corner.
“People on the site would have to be shielded. It’s a big problem for me.”
The building would have been situated on land south of Muirdrum junction on Carnoustie’s Carlogie Road.
Designs showed two units would be needed to provide round-the-clock supervision for clients up to the age of 25.
During the Development Management Review Committee meeting, convenor Richard Moore said he believed aspects of the proposal were misleading.
“Reading through it seemed disingenuous in places,” he said.
“It states the social workers were in support of the site but there was nothing said about that. They simply supported new facilities.
“I don’t think it’s a safe location.”
Although the committee dismissed the appeal, councillor Bill Duff had attempted to garner support for approving the plan.
He said: “There is clearly a need for this facility. The applicant has made the point that it’s better being in a rural area rather than a conurbation.
“We saw the road safety issue on a site visit, however, they are not building a supermarket or a secondary school here.
“It’s a facility with one or two staff. The amount of traffic movements would be very, very low.
“I would be honest, I would go with overturning the original decision. The land is not being used for anything else. It’s not in agricultural use; it’s scrub land.
“They are currently using an unsatisfactory building and location.”
Councillors also upheld the refusal for six new homes in Carnoustie at Barry Road and Westfield Street.
