The site of a once-major Angus employer may reopen as a business hub, more than two years after it shut with the loss of 80 jobs.
Ross & Bonnyman’s workshops in Forfar closed in 2012, but plans have now been lodged to bring its 2,500 sq m Market Street site back into use with a number of businesses sharing space in the redeveloped workshop.
On Tuesday, Angus councillors will be asked to give the green light to Green Oak Properties’ proposals for a training centre, offices, van hire capacity, taxi office, vehicle workshop and storage facility.
Five objections and a representation from Forfar Community Council have been received, citing access, noise and smell as negative factors.
Community council representative Freda Napier said the group strongly objects to the “ill-conceived” change of use due to lack of definition of unit sizes and access.
“Road congestion in this area is already a major problem, with parking on both sides of the road as it is a bus route, school route, route to Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre and ambulance use,” she said. “This site was previously approved for housing, which would be a more acceptable use as this area is now primarily a residential area.”
A report by the council’s head of planning and place, Vivien Smith, states that the premises formerly had permission for 24-hour operations, but accepted noise could be mitigated.
The council would impose a noise-minimising condition from 10pm-7am each day, with a less stringent condition outside these times, with noise not exceeding 55 decibels at any time.
A previous application by Green Oak, similar in scope but for the addition of a covered car wash, was withdrawn in March.
Ross & Bonnyman operated at Market Street and Robert Street for almost 40 years, and specialised in supplying lifts for warehouses and commercial vehicles.
The firm’s liquidation was raised at First Minister’s Question’s by Angus North and Mearns MSP Nigel Don.
Liquidator Ken Pattullo said it was “very sad” to see the end of such an established company.