RESIDENTS in a picturesque village in north Ayrshire are unhappy at plans to convert a semi-ruined castle into a modern home, moving a footpath in the process.
The owners of Fairlie Castle, a scheduled monument, submitted plans to the council to transform the building into a habitable dwelling with a large modern extension including garage, which have been approved.
Locals are dismayed that the 15th-century castle, once owned by the Earl of Glasgow, will be renovated and a pathway that runs next to it will have to be diverted.
It is claimed that the pathway is a right of way, something disputed by the council, and a public consultation is under way to gauge the wider views of the community.
David McNeur, 63, a secondary school teacher, who lives in Fairlie, said: “The local authority said it was not a right of way, they said it was an informal path promoted by the community council, which is untrue. The community council had funding from North Ayrshire council to put signs to the castle and it’s about a century-old footpath.
“You would think that with a scheduled monument it would be in the council’s interest, and the public’s interest and the country’s interest to keep it a scheduled monument. Why then did they not think it would not be important from a public standpoint?” he added.
A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “The planning permission was a renewal of a previous planning consent for the restoration of Fairlie Castle to form a dwelling house.
“In relation to publicity, I can advise that both consents were subject to the statutory notification procedures, arising from which there were representations from the public and a consultation response from Fairlie Community Council.
“The points of representation were assessed within the planning officer’s report of handling.”
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