Councillors have inked approval on a planning bid to turn Montrose’s former day care centre into a tattoo parlour.
The new business is to be part of a conversion for the C-listed former church at Panmure Place which was closed after its replacement by the Adam Centre last year.
Angus development standards councillors unanimously backed Iain Fraser’s plan, dismissing neighbour objections raising fears that the new business would bring littering and noise.
There was also a claim it was an unsuitable change of use given its proximity to Montrose Academy.
The front and east part of the Gothic-style church will become a house with the tattoo studio towards the rear and accessed separately.
The application sparked seven letters of objection, with two submissions in support of the plan, one of which described the criticisms as “historic and prejudiced”.
One objector wrote: “Montrose Academy already creates significant flow of people in this area and the creation of an ‘adult’ business is not appropriate for the pupils aged 12 to 18 years old who will be exposed to this business.
“Typically music is played in a tattoo studio, and this could cause nuisance especially if the studio is open outside normal business working hours.
“Another nuisance is the additional volume of people that this would bring to the area. Invariably, the studio will attract people, and as can be seen in other parts of the town, people will gather outside the studio and have the effect of loitering, littering and other general waste.”
The claims were countered by one supporter who said the town should “move out of the dark ages”.
She said: “Having read through all the objections from local residents I find their views to be historic and entirely prejudiced.
“There is no smell that comes from a studio. There is also no noise that comes from a studio.
“As a parent of both primary and high school aged children I have no concern about them passing the door of the tattoo studio in its current location.
“Montrose needs to come out of the dark ages, there are charity shops and hairdressers and little else.
“Every business that reaches the high street is fleeting and it’s about time Montrose accepted one of its own is improving upon what we have.”
