Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP, joined many local businesses today at a meeting with Argyll & Bute Council planning officials and Councillors over the controversy surrounding Argyll & Bute Council’s attempt to force them to remove their road advertising signs on the A85 and A828 roads. Those officials present were Howard Young, Area Team Leader, Oban Planning Office, Daniel Addis, Enforcement Officer and Adrian Jackson-Stark, Strategic Planning.

Speaking afterwards at the Castle Stalker View Café where the meeting took place, Jamie McGrigor said:

“ It was quite obvious from the passion expressed to me by local businesses how strongly people feel about this issue. Local businesses are finding it hard enough to survive this recession without extra hurdles being put in their path such as being told to take down their advertising notices.

“ Many of these have been in place for 30 years and I fully understand why this has become a burning issue. I was pleased that the council and planners came to the meeting having already written to businesses apologising for being too heavy handed

and I feel that their attitude during the meeting was conciliatory and they have agreed to look at the matter in a lot more detail. The point was made very strongly at the meeting that on this issue enforcement is a discretionary power and the Council is not bound to act where there is a wider public interest.

“ Let us hope there will be a happy outcome for the North Argyll businesses already affected who are after all probably only the tip of the iceberg in terms of all the other businesses who could be affected at a later stage. As any businessman knows, advertising is absolutely vital and we must all try to encourage the small private sector businesses which keep the economy of Argyll and Bute afloat.”

Christopher Cox, Operations Director at Inverawe Smokehouses, said:

" Whilst it was refreshing to be able to put our views to the planners and to hear what they had to say, I am left with the feeling that they are making arbitrary and subjective decisions that if left unchallenged will have an unfortunate effect on jobs. I urge the planners to think again."

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For all further information please call Jamie’s office on 0131 348 5616

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