PERMISSION was this week given for a slaughterhouse to be built on the edge of Ecclefechan.
At a meeting on Wednesday, councillors approved the application by Pickstock Ltd for the development alongside the B7076.
However, it is conditional and based on the pending response from Scottish Water. It is expected they will not raise any issues, but in the event they do then the application will go back to councillors.
In the meantime, members of the planning applications committee backed the 110 hectare development, with Annandale South Cllr Ian Carruthers pointing out that many residents locally were supportive.
Applicant’s agent Andrew Watt also told the meeting there had been widespread consultation carried out.
He said: “Pickstock is committed to a high quality scheme at Ecclefechan.
“The content of the application has been driven entirely by the local development plan.
“It’s a comprehensive scheme in a carefully landscaped setting. The planning application delivers on all fronts.”
But ten objections were received against the scheme and one of the opponents, Dr Sarina Saiger-Beacher, addressed councillors with her concerns about what she called the “continued urbanisation of our village”.
Dr Saiger added: “This is about the effect and impact that this will have on us.
“It’s a sensitive area. This is likely to have a significant impact on the environment, human health and biodiversity.
“I fully appreciate the council do not see Ecclefechan in the same light as other villages in the county which seem to have more money spent on them.”
In addition, she criticised the “incomprehensible” decision by planners not to request an Environmental Impact Assessment on the scheme, although chief planning officer David Suttie pointed out the supplementary information provided by the firm was “tantamount to an EIA”.
Dr Saiger further expressed surprise the application was at committee stage as there are still unresolved official complaints about the council’s handling of it and their refusal to “provide reasonable responses” to freedom of information requests on the matter.
