A COMPANY which supports Scottish Borders Council with its winter gritting and snow clearance work has launched an appeal after local authority planners blocked an expansion bid.

A retrospective application was submitted from Irvine Plant Ltd for the change of use from business to a plant hire site of land at White Bridge Park and Kingsmeadows Road in Peebles.

In his report council planner Ranald Dods refused the application over concerns it was “fundamentally altering” the character of a rural area.

The site lies to the east of Cavalry Park and is within the Tweed Valley special landscape area. It is not allocated in the local development plan for industrial use.

When members of Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) Local Review Body meet on Monday (November 11) they will be asked to consider an appeal.

Members will be told the business employs 16 and supports other local businesses.

The company also carries out contracts for several local companies including SBC, helping out heavily throughout the winter with gritting and snow clearance work.

It also supports the Blyth Bridge Tractor Run and is also a major backer of the Beltane Festival, providing free transport.

The appeal statement says the applicant was unaware of the restrictive use of the land when acquiring it a decade ago.

It adds: “It is unfortunate that neither the appellant nor his legal advisors were aware of the class designation issue at the time of purchase 10 years ago.

“The principle here is really whether or not the benefits of this successful local business outweigh any possible negative impacts. It is not a sensitive site in most respects.

“Yes, it is near to the river Tweed SAC, and yes, it is not currently well screened from the B7062. All these issues can be resolved.

“This is an established, successful and important local business providing services to SBC, other businesses, the public and it provides significant charitable support. There are no other suitable sites available locally.

“The impacts identified can all be mitigated, and can be done so subject to a conditional approval. This is not the case for the company itself if forced to vacate this site, there will be a significant detriment to all the identified beneficiaries.

“The appellant submits that this was an unfortunate error, that there have been no complaints made to either SBC or the company directly over a considerable period of time and that mitigation of impacts is simple and can be conditioned.

“It is hoped that the panel will agree with this and grant planning permission upon re- view.”

In his report, SBC planning officer Ranald Dods stated: “Despite the condition attached to the planning permission for the building, the applicant states they were unaware that permission was required for the development.

“The site is within the Tweed Valley special landscape area and the majority of it was, before the unauthorised works were undertaken, greenfield land.

“As evinced from the planning history, the development of this site has been acknowledged as having the potential to have a negative impact on the visual quality of the area.

“The nature and scale of activity associated with a builder’s yard and plant hire business is not one which is appropriate to the rural character of the area.”