A Forfar firm’s development plans are on track, after planning councillors gave the nod to four extraction flues at its premises.
Despite objections from residents living close to GS Robertson’s Carseview Road base, Angus officials said they are confident stringent conditions could be applied to control noise and emissions from the operation.
The company which specialises in steel-framed agricultural buildings will instal the metal flues to serve two spray booths within what were once sheds associated with Forfar’s railway.
A company representative told Angus development standards committee the firm had relocated there three years ago and invested heavily in the buildings and the workforce.
Councillors heard the firm currently employs 34 people.
“This will provide an in-house coating facility,” the committee was told.
“We understand the concerns from the neighbouring residential estate. We are trying to do the job properly and to the current environmental requirements, both for our employees and those around us.”
One objector complained to the committee that forklift trucks had been operating as early as 4am on one occasion, stating: “We know that this is an industrial area.
“Over time the area has grown quite a lot and we don’t understand why it’s acceptable to have spraying and blasting adjacent to residential properties, even though it is inside.
“We are quite happy this building is being used and not being allowed to deteriorate, but there’s a limit to what we feel is acceptable.
“We expect a fair compromise, if not a refusal of this application.”
In an approval recommendation, planning chiefs suggested conditions including a noise limit and controls on the plant’s hours of operation.
A detailed scheme for the control of emissions must also be submitted to the local authority.
Councillors unanimously approved the bid.
Forfar councillor Lynne Devine said she hoped there would be “ongoing monitoring” of the operation.