The developer at the centre of plans to bulldoze an iconic Forfar school building has been accused of making a “sick joke” by furious Angus councillors.
The local authority’s development standards committee this week unanimously rejected Taylor Shepherd Homes’ plans to demolish the disused Wellbrae Primary School in the heart of the town.
Council planners had recommended that the plans for the 132-year-old building be refused when they came before the committee this week.
They argued that the proposals flew in the face of the town’s local plan.
They also warned that they fell foul of government guidance stating that listed buildings only be demolished if several key factors had been met.
These include the need to prove that no other use can be found for a threatened site.
But when the matter came before the committee, the council’s planning officers stressed that “no information was submitted as part of the submission that even attempted to argue that these tests had been met.”
That revelation “astonished” councillors, and several members blasted the developer for suggesting that the building be razed.
Kirriemuir and Dean Councillor Alison Andrews said, “I appreciate that it is no longer needed as a school but apart from that there is nothing wrong with it.
“It’s not falling down and it’s not in a state of disrepair.
“I’m astonished that the developer even came forward with an application to demolish it having done nothing to try to find some use for it.
“I think the developer is making some kind of sick joke here.”
Arbroath member Bob Spink added, “I would be very surprised if anybody could argue well against the retention of a building of such character.Criminal”This building is part of the fabric of life there and to even contemplate knocking down a building like this would be criminal.”
Forfar councillor John Rymer warned that the loss of the building would “cut the heart out” of the surrounding area.
The committee earlier heard from members of the public who had objected to the planning application.
Forfar Community Council chairwoman Isobel Ross, speaking solely as a member of the public, said, “My husband and I strongly object to the demolition of this school.
“This is an historical building and if we lose it then once it’s gone it can never be replaced.
Several of the councillors called on the developers to go back to the drawing board and look at ways of retaining the building before submitting another application.
Arbroath’s David Fairweather said that other former schools in the county had been turned into “lovely flats” and that a similar development could happen at Wellbrae-a suggestion shared by committee convener David Lumgair.
Councillor Colin Brown added that the site would be a perfect home for many of Forfar’s small groups and societies and suggested that an “action group” come together to push for the school’s retention as some form of community hub.