City Centre News : Cllr Fraser Macpherson welcomes news on planning and amusement centres

11.18.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Sep 2006

Cllr Fraser Macpherson welcomes news on planning and amusement centres

News that Dundee City Council has helped shape new national planning policies for town centres and retailing has today (Wednesday 6th September) been welcomed by City Centre Liberal Democrat Councillor Fraser Macpherson.

Changes made by the Scottish Executive in planning guidance following representations by Dundee City Council will make it less likely that the number of amusement arcades will be permitted to grow in main city shopping centres.

"This is welcome news," said Cllr Macpherson. "Many of my constituents in the City Centre have been unhappy about a number of planning appeal decisions by the Scottish Executive Reporters' Unit in the past, which overturned City Council decisions to refuse planning approval for amusement arcades in the City Centre.

"The new guidance should make the granting of such appeals in the future less likely," concluded Cllr Macpherson.

The new Scottish Executive guidance states that amusement centres are most appropriately sited in secondary shopping areas, or in areas of mixed commercial development and are unlikely to be acceptable in primary shopping areas, close to housing or near schools, places of worship, hospitals and hotels or where they are likely to adversely affect amenity.

It underlines that this is particularly the case in conservation areas or places of special architectural character.

The issue will be reported to the City Council's Planning & Transportation Committee next Monday (11th September).

Related Link:

Dundee City Council recent press information.