Repair yard near Skinflats gets thumbs up

All Truck Commercial Vehicle Repairs was seeking retrospective planning permission for a large building and yard on land to the south east of Yonderhaugh – between Grangemouth and Skinflats.

Councillors heard that allowing the building to remain would help to save at least 25 jobs.

Officers said that given the economic situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, helping economic development was a material planning consideration.

All Truck Commerical Vehicle Repairs, which employs more than 75 people from Falkirk district, was having to relocate from Bonnybridge and was struggling with social distancing requirement.

Three objections were made to the retrospective planning application, with objectors saying there was no justification for this development in a countryside location.

The committee was told that an agricultural building of a similar size had previously been granted planning permission and the firm had also promised that landscaping was being done to soften the look.

Local councillor Laura Murtagh was concerned that large trucks might be tempted to cut through the village of Skinflats – where HGV traffic is banned – and asked for a condition to safeguard the protection for residents.

Planning officers said they would advise the business to do this and permission was granted.