Despite concerns over antisocial behaviour on the street, planners have given the go ahead for a flat to be used as a holiday let in East Lothian’s biggest town
Objectors to the proposals to turn the ground floor flat in Musselburgh into a short term holiday let raised concerns about ongoing antisocial behaviour issues in the street warning the addition of the new use could make it worse.
However a report from East Lothian Council planning officers said that problems on the street, which were already known to police and council staff, related to a council-owned home and had no links to the proposed holiday flat,
They wrote that while objectors felt a holiday flat could make things worse, there were already five other short term holiday lets in the area none of which had any record of problems.
They stated: “Police Scotland did highlight that there is significant antisocial behaviour and a live anti-social behaviour order in relation to the occupier of a nearby property. They clarify however that there is no link to the property the subject of this application.”
They added: “The property with anti-social behaviour issues is occupied under a council tenancy.”
The application from Montgomery Empire Ltd for the flat in Stoneybank Gardens North was approved by planners who said that five other flats which had been granted short term holiday lets in the area had not had any reported problems.
They stated: “Accordingly, in the particular circumstances of this case, on these amenity considerations, the use of the ground floor flat as a two bedroomed unit of short term self-catering holiday let accommodation with its own separate entrance does not and would not have a harmful impact on the amenity of neighbouring residential properties and would be a use compatible with the predominantly residential use of the area.”
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
