After several years of fundraising by scouts in Hillside, Angus councillors will consider an application to create a new scout hut in the village.
The plans would more than double the size of the existing timber hut at Hillside Park, which would be replaced.
The current hut measures roughly 21m x 5.5m (116 metres squared) but the new build, which would be a wet dash and timber cladding structure with a pitched slate roof, will be 30m x 8m in size (240 metres squared).
This would be located on the footprint of the existing hut but would be located further from the existing wire and post fence located roughly 3m to the south.
Internally it would contain multiple storage spaces, a larger hall, improved kitchen and toilet, an office and a plant room.
A written statement submitted with the application indicated that the existing hut is in a poor state of repair and unsuitable for purpose in terms of its size and standard of features.
It stated that an audit of the open space and recreational features of the park reveal the larger scout hut would reduce the available park area by only half a per cent, so would not impact on sporting or recreational requirements.
It added that the new hut would be of a traditional design and use traditional construction methods that would ideally be undertaken by local tradesmen using locally sourced materials.
The scouts are proposing to utilise a grey water recovery system to store rainwater for reuse and solar panels would be used for heating water.
Money for the hut has been raised by the scouts through various fundraising events in the village over several years.
There has been one letter of objection to the plan, criticising the removal of trees, the potential for drainage issues and the greater visual impact of the new hut.
In a report to the development standards committee, which meets this morning, communities director Alan McKeown recommends the plans for approval with three conditions.
These are that the external cladding and wet dash render shall be agreed in writing, that music and other noise be controlled so as to be inaudible to nearby residential properties and that a scheme for replacement planting of three trees be submitted to the council.
Montrose councillor David May called on councillors to support the plans.
He said: “Our scouts, their parents and their supporters have worked very hard over many years to run so many fundraising events to meet their vision to replace the present hut.
“The replacement would provide state-of-the-art facilities which will serve the needs not only of the youngsters but also the community.”