Redevelopment refusal may set precedent

Michael Alexander, The Courier, 16 May 2002

Only time will tell whether refusal of an application to turn one of Scotland’s oldest coaching inns into a house will set a precedent across Scotland.

The prospect has been raised after the owners of the Cambo Arms, Kingsbarns, failed in their bid to persuade a Scottish Executive Reporter that their business premises were no longer viable and should be redeveloped.

Yesterday the chairman of Kingsbarns Community Council hoped that the village’s only pub might soon re-open despite claims by the owner that the business is unviable.

Clare Wright said she respected the position of Alistair and Anne Fraser, who would have to “weigh up their options” following their failed bid to turn the historic premises into a twin residence.

But she said most local people had missed the pub since its closure in November 2000 - it currently only serves bed and breakfast - and she reckoned the hostelry was vital as a central hub to the community.

As The Courier revealed on Saturday, the Frasers’ appeal to the Executive to subdivide and alter the Cambo Arms Hotel to form a twin residence was rejected.

The reporter ruled that the permanent loss of the pub would be detrimental to the character of the conservation area. He also said arguments surrounding the viability of the business were not proven.

The findings follow Fife Council’s east area development committee’s rejection of the application in June.

On the advice of the council’s planning service and after hearing that hundreds of villagers had petitioned against losing their only hostelry, counclllors agreed unanimously to refuse the application on the grounds that the bar was a central pivot of community life.

The issue of European human rights and the “right to a pint” had also been raised.

Yesterday Ms Wright said the reporter’s decision to refuse the appeal underlined the strength of feeling in the village, and the wider issues. However, she emphasised the Frasers’ position was respected.

She said, “I think this might be the first time in Scotland that a decision has been made to refuse planning permission on soulful reasons rather than simply planning reasons.

“The Frasers will obviously have to weigh up their options.

“I think local people would be very happy, if the pub were up and running, and would be willing to support it, but it’s up to them. It will be interesting to see what happens.”

Yesterday The Courier made contact with the Frasers at the Cambo Arms but no one was willing to make any public comment.