A golf club’s bid to install more than 100 solar panels on the roof of its premises have been turned down by council officials.
Cardross Golf Club lodged plans with Argyll and Bute Council for 108 photovoltaic panels to be installed at its clubhouse on the village’s Main Street.
But despite no objections being lodged by members of the public, the authority went with a planning official’s recommendation to refuse listed building consent.
A report stated the official’s opinion that the panels had ‘a detrimental effect on the character and appearance’ of the B-listed building.
The planning officer said in the report: “The roof of Cardross Golf Club already has a number of projections.
“However, the photovoltaics by virtue of their number, appearance, size and positioning are prominent, incongruous features which would project above the existing roof plane.
“The panels are constructed from modern materials and appear as modern additions, alien and unsympathetic to the historic building.
“Juxtaposed against the traditional materials and architecture of this Category B listed building they are dominant, visually obtrusive and visually discordant.
“By placing this number of panels on the roof some of the historic fabric of the building is covered and lost, which has a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of this category B listed building.”
The report said this was contrary to three local planning policies.
The report also said that the proposed panels would cover a total area of 176.2 square metres, and would be set back from the edges of the building, cased in aluminium frames.
Cardross Golf Club has been contacted for comment.
Councils green credentials smitten?
You would need to be 15 feet tall or fly over to see all of the panels. Our planners are lacking in common sense. It’s just a small step in the battle to save the planet, and one we should be taking. I wonder if they would allow a coal fired generator on the grounds that, when it was built, we all used coal for every purpose?