Cardrona compound draws objections - again

David O'Leary • Published 20 Aug 2010 09:30 0 Comments

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A CONTROVERSIAL compound on the outskirts of Cardrona continues to ruffle feathers.

Drug dealer Andrew Cleghorn’s dodgy depot has drawn several enforcement actions and numerous objections against it over the past number of years.

The 44-year-old was initially refused permission to add an office onto a former agricultural building as well as create new access back in 2006.

And further developments at the site, including the erection of fencing, security lights and CCTV cameras have all been carried out without permission.

The building firm boss, who recently served a two year prison sentence for dealing cannabis, has now submitted an application for a 2m high boundary fence around a chicken run - which he has already put in place.

A sign has also been erected advertising Cleghorn’s new business venture, Cleek Poultry Ltd.

Five enforcement orders have been served against him over the years but he has ignored them all and even took his fight to the Scottish Government. However, his eventual appeal was turned down.

At last Thursday’s meeting of Peebles Community Council, his most recent planning application was debated by and objected to by councillors.

Community councillor and head of the planning committee, John Swanson, said: “Once again there is a retrospective planning application for work already carried out in defiance of enforcement orders.

“The site is an unsightly development and as we have stated on many occasions, until the site is returned to a state that complies with approved planning applications, then no further applications, especially for work that has already been completed should be approved.

"The area is an eyesore and needs to be improved not degraded even further.”

Community councillor John Calder then urged those elected councillors present, namely Catriona Bhatia, Graham Garvie and Neil Calvert, to force enforcement officers to finally do something about the site.

Councillor Graham Garvie said: “There have been flagrant breaches of planning rules and regulations by Mr Cleghorn over the years and of course this should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“Enforcement action and legislation may move slowly but be assured this matter will be dealt with."

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 20 Aug 10

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