Plans for new home to be built at Mossneuk Farm rejected

Gordon Pollock had hoped to create the new property on Mossneuk Farm, which is owned by his parents Archie and Myra Pollock.

He wanted to work on the farm after being forced into retirement from the army eight years ago when he suffered gunshot wounds in Afghanistan.

Mr Pollock had been working as a bodyguard in Iraq in recent years but returned to the UK to help his parents on the farm in August last year.

In a planning statement, Derek Scott, the agent acting on behalf of Mr Pollock, said: “Gordon Pollock maintained a keen interest in and continued working on the farm when on leave from the army with the intention one day of returning on a full-time basis.

“His career in the army ended prematurely in 2010 when, during his second tour in Afghanistan, he suffered injuries which led to irreparable damage to his hearing and a large scar on his arm as a result of a gunshot wound.

“Whilst he worked as a bodyguard protecting oil workers in Iraq for a number of years after retiring from the army, the injuries sustained in Afghanistan have forced him to take premature retirement from this work also.”

The farms owners had previously applied to build a new house on the site in August last year but that was rejected as planners felt it would be a “prominent and incongruous feature” on the greenbelt.

And neighbours had objected to the new plans, claiming that building work could interfere and pose a risk to children who use the nearby Barrhead Riding Club’s livery yard.

Planning bosses were told that the farm has 200 cows currently with plans to introduce a further 50 in the next five years along with 150 new sheep and 100-acres of forest planting.

Council officers had recommended that the application be approved with a condition that the occupancy of the house is restricted to agricultural workers only.

And they had moved to reassure planning committee members that if conditions weren’t complied with, it could leave the new property at risk of being demolished by enforcement teams.

But Stewart Miller, who owns a farm as well as sitting on the committee, said: “This application is just rubbish and I’m not happy. In fact, I’m really angry that this should even be considered.

“I don’t believe this is the right place and I don’t believe they need another agricultural worker.”

The application was refused by 3-2 but the owners are expected to appeal the decision.