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Planning Application to 'Change Use' and Develop the Premises The intent of the owners has now been confirmed by the submission of a planning application to 'Change the Use' of the premises to a residential property and to develop it as such. To review the Planning Application and/or comment use the following link:
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/apps/detail.asp?ref_no=APP/2008/0932 If you would rather review the paper application or respond by letter then use the following address, quoting the reference number APP/2008/0932:
Planning Dept.
Gordon House
Blackhall Road
Inverurie
AB51 3WA Note Reports in the Donside Piper on the 15th May 2008 indicate that the volume of comments submitted to Aberdeenshire Council have been so high that the council have stopped updating the count on their website. Please also be aware that in a public notice in the Inverurie Herald, Aberdeenshire Council informed readers that its planning service was receiving a large volume of representation with reference to the application and that anyone who had submitted a letter, or intended to, would not receive an individual acknowledgement. There is no news as to when the application will go before the planning committee but the community company will endeavour to provide updates through this website. | The Future of the Midmar Inn - Time to Have Your Say
Whilst we respect the current owner's decision to shut down the Midmar Inn, The Friends of Midmar Inn Community Company believe that the overall viability of the Inn cannot have changed radically in the three years since it was purchased as a going concern. It was sad to see that the current owners were unable to make a success of their first venture but country pubs have always been subject to the fickleness of the market and their popularity wax and wane. The community and visitors, in the mean time, have lost an important amenity and 'hub', the last place that the geographically dispersed community of Midmar could spontaneously gather and enjoy each others company.
The closure of the 'Cottage Bar' is a sad reflection of the current status of country inns. As these premises will fetch much higher prices as residential properties when compared to their business value it is easy to see why many owners are trying to take the development option. The Friends of Midmar Inn Community Company proposed to 'Let the Market Decide' the future of the Inn and requested that the premises be marketed at its business value. After all, each previous owner had their own reasons for selling but they all did the decent thing and put the property on the market and let someone else have a go. The current owners have so far refused to market the business and have also rejected offers to purchase it as such. They have therefore not allowed the commercial market to demonstrate the suitability of the building or future viability of the business. They have though, suggested they would be interested in selling the premises at the value of a development site.
The intent of the owners has now been confirmed by the submission of a planning application to 'Change the Use' of the premises to a residential property and to develop it as such. There are many reasons why this application should be rejected but only two for its approval; that is to benefit the current owners to the detriment of the majority and to fly in the face of several local and Scottish Government policies.
We recognise that this is a contentious and emotive issue but whatever your views and whether you're a member of the Midmar community or one of the many visitors to the Midmar Inn from all across the UK (and the rest of the world!) now is the time to have your say and the facility exists through the local government planning process for you to be heard.
| Reasons to Object to the Planning Application Granting the application to change the use of the Midmar Inn will result in permanent loss of an existing community asset and facility and would:
Be contrary to several policies in the Aberdeenshire Local Plan, such as:
Policy Hou\4 Part 2: “the developer will be required to demonstrate that … (b) the existing building is no longer required or suitable for its original purpose”. Furthermore, Appendix 2 to the Local Plan indicates “buildings should not be converted to housing if this would conflict with … the amenity of the future …”.
Since the Midmar Inn was closed on 3 September 2007 the current owners have refused to market the business as a going concern and have rejected offers to purchase the business as a going concern. The owners have therefore not demonstrated the building is no longer required or is unsuitable, nor that the business is not viable.
Policy Inf\10: The justification for the policy states: “The social foundation of many communities rely on the facilities, such as halls or children’s nurseries, within them and they should be supported wherever possible. Otherwise, the roles of some communities could be threatened, particularly in rural areas where meeting places are scarce.”
Approval of a change of use would deny the thriving and expanding community of a vital social and historic meeting place forever.
Policy Gen\1: The proposed change of use would “prejudice future development opportunities” and does “create a precedent for inappropriate future development patterns” [paragraph (h)]. In addition, it denies the opportunity to, and fails to help “support existing, local employment” [paragraph (l)].
Be contrary to the Scottish Government strategy on sustainable development 'Choosing our Future', such as:
Sustainable Communities - the closure of the inn is another 'nail in the coffin' of rural life. The community has already lost the local post office and shop. Granting the application will lead to continued (and permanent) diminution of important community facilities/amenities. Without amenities and businesses that support the community, Midmar will become just another dormitory village for people working in the industry and commerce of Westhill and Aberdeen.
Sustainable Development, the Well-Being of Scotland's People - promoting personal well-being is one of the core aims of sustainable development. Meaningful work, a high quality local environment, spending time with friends and family, taking part in activities that are not linked to work are all part of the mix that contributes to our sense of well-being, as individuals and as a country. Granting the application will permanently cut off an institution that has been part of the Midmar Community for over 100 years, which has been a place of training and development for young people and was the only remaining place that the geographically dispersed community could spontaneously gather and enjoy each others company.
Supporting Thriving Communities -thriving and healthy communities have strong individual identities that engender a sense of pride in those who live and work in them. They are well planned, well connected and well kept places where people wish to live, are active in shaping local services and their local physical and cultural environment, and where the needs of everyone in the community are taken into account. Given proper management and investment, the Midmar Inn has the potential to be a thriving business and is well positioned to take advantage of continued development in Midmar and Westhill. The suggested lack of viability of the Midmar Inn is not consistent with other local inns which all appear to be booming e.g. Jaffs in Dunecht, Learney Arms in Torphins etc. Granting the application will only benefit the current owners of the premises yet will do nothing for the health, pride and needs of the majority or for the value of the community itself.
Sustainable Consumption and Production - permanent closure of the inn will cut off an outlet for local produce
Climate Change and Energy - approval of change of use and permanent closure of the inn will lead to the community having to travel significant distances to work at and use similar facilities.
Be contrary to Visit Scotland strategy on Scottish Tourism 'thenextdecade'
Visit Scotland's growth ambition is to increase gross tourism revenues by 50% by 2015 - tourism is an important element in the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Scotland, from major cities to rural areas, many of which depend on the industry for jobs and infrastructure. The Midmar Inn is set in an area of natural beauty which has a number of local points of interest such as burial mounds, standing stones, operating and derelict kirks, a visitors centre and a fishery. Granting the application will permanently cut off the opportunity to encourage tourism to the area through provision of an historic 'watering hole' offering facilities and quality refreshments to visitors nb the Midmar Inn had the much sought-after honour of being mentioned in Roger Protz's CAMRA Good Beer Guide and real ale enthusiasts regularly came from far afield to sample the ales (many of them produced in Scotland) on offer.
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