Councillors have voted against allowing a residential development near a busy road in Bellshill.

North Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee discussed proposals from Abdul Majid to demolish a commercial unit and two detached houses in order to construct a new three storey building featuring a ground floor shop and six flats above it at North Road in the town.

The planning application attracted 20 letters of representation, of which 17 were objections and three expressed support, and was recommended for conditional approval as it was deemed to be in keeping with zoning and the council’s development plan.

However Councillor Angela Campbell (Labour, Bellshill) spoke against the development, saying that the road had “masses” of lorries stopping so that their drivers could purchase and eat food, which she said left North Road “like the dodgems”. She added that this was a bus route and the only main route to Coatbridge.

She was advised that the recommended planning conditions to be imposed if planning permission was granted prevented the sale of hot food and with only a convenience store being allowed. It was believed that this would mean people would not sit in their vehicles for long periods of time. Also, the plans included provision for parking serving both the proposed flats as well as the retail unit. This new parking would also make it easier for stock to be delivered to the shop.

However Councillor Campbell said she was not satisfied with this as she believed North Road would require parking restrictions to be put into effect, and without those traffic problems would not be improved.

Although this was outside the power of the planning committee to address, it was noted that the council’s roads department had recommended the application be refused, although overall it was felt that the proposals would improve the current situation so it had been recommended that planning permission be granted.

Councillor Gary Robinson (SNP, Coatbridge West) agreed with Councillor Campbell as North Road is the main route into Bellshill from Coatbridge and also the M8, and therefore very busy, and that the proposed development was too large for the site.

Councillor Robinson then formally moved for refusal, citing the concerns of the roads department, and was seconded by Councillor Campbell. This amendment was passed by 14 votes to six so the application was refused.