AROUND 60 objectors gathered on Dunure Road as they blasted plans for an ‘intolerably’ high care home.

They protested during a site visit by South Ayrshire Council to determine the site’s suitability.

The inspection took place on Friday, January 26 to assess if the application for the erection of a care home with associated car parking, service area and landscaping at land at Greenan would be appropriate.

Heath McLean who attended the protest said: “At the beginning, only two residents were informed about the proposal, including myself, which is quite unacceptable.

“We are objecting the intolerable height. A two storey building is supposed to be 8.4 metres. This care home would be 13 metres.

Mactaggart & Mickel have broken all agreements off the 2009 plan without even contacting the Doonfoot residents. 

“Once the scenic route is gone, it is gone.”

Heath McLean confirmed that around 60 protesters attended last Friday including the councillors.

Craig Ormond, Director, Mactaggart & Mickel Group, said: “Mactaggart & Mickel Group is an award-winning, fourth generation family business that already has a positive association with the area via the provision of quality housing and a local Co-operative store at Greenan Views.

“The application is for a 53-bed care home. The approved care home in phase one was for a two storey development; a single storey building has never been mooted.

“The proposed site of the care home is further away from Dunure Road than the proposed housing originally approved for the site. This means it would be less prominent in terms of the local landscape. 

“The approved masterplan for Greenan allocated this area of the site for housing and therefore did not protect views in this particular location.

“We believe that this care home has been sympathetically designed and would be in keeping with the local area. Should permission be granted we will of course continue to ensure that we keep the local community informed of progress.”

A decision will be made this week by the council.