AN APPEAL has been lodged against East Lothian Council’s decision to refuse a plan to convert The Quay complex in Musselburgh into a care home for the elderly, as it was revealed an enquiry had been made to turn the building into a mosque.

Lengthy discussions at a meeting of council’s planning committee in June regarding the building at Fisherrow Harbour – previously a leisure complex home to a gym, restaurant and function suites among other facilities – ended with a near-unanimous decision to reject Simply Musselburgh Care Limited’s plans for a 40-bed nursing home.

Only Councillor Norman Hampshire, convener of the planning committee, backed council officials’ recommendation to approve the proposals.  Simply Musselburgh Care Limited has now lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division.

Following the planning meeting, Charan Gill, The Quay owner and entrepreneur, said he was “completely shocked and baffled” by the decision to refuse planning permission.

He has now told the Courier that if the appeal falls through, he could negotiate with other parties.

And Dr Gill said the only other “serious enquiry” had come via a phone call from the Centre of Islamic Studies for a community-based project to turn The Quay into “one of the biggest mosques” on the east coast of Scotland, along with an Islamic school and retention of a cafe where no alcohol would be sold.

He said he was not in discussions with the centre.

The care home appeal is currently with the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) and has been allocated to an independent reporter to determine on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We currently expect a determination in the case this autumn but this is subject to change dependent on the method of determination deemed necessary by the reporter.”

Local groups are calling for the appeal to be thrown out.

Barry Turner, spokesman for Musselburgh Conservation Society, said: “In its further representation relating to this appeal the Musselburgh Conservation Society has been severely critical of the report prepared by council planners and considered by the planning committee and we urge the reporter dealing with the appeal not to place weight on the fact officers recommended approval.

“The report did not give proper consideration of the various objections concerning the community’s harbour and waterfront initiative and the likely impact that the proposed change of use to a nursing home would have on this.

"The initiative, which is supported by Musselburgh Area Partnership and referred to in its Musselburgh Area Plan, should have been a material consideration in reaching a recommendation on the planning application.

“This is not only because of the social, environmental and economic benefits that the initiative would bring but because it is very much in line with Scottish Government and East Lothian Council thinking on how local people can get involved in shaping their areas.

“If a recreational facility like The Quay did not exist at the harbour, any vision for the future of the area would include the provision of something like it.

“There is only one harbour and waterfront in Musselburgh and we should be making the most of it. There are many places that a nursing home could be provided to meet identified needs.

“We state that if the nursing home were to be supported on appeal then the waterside initiative would be jeopardised and a great opportunity for this building to be part of a creative vision for the area would be lost.”

Iain Clark, chairman of Musselburgh Area Partnership, said: “This is a prime waterfront site which is situated within the area key to the regeneration of our harbour and waterfront.

“We are fully supportive of new care home needs but this location is wrong and requires investment to ensure that Musselburgh as a visitor and tourist destination is driven forward to benefit our community, businesses and the local economy.”

Fisherrow Harbour and Seafront Association, Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council and Musselburgh Business Partnership have jointly asked the reporter to reject the appeal, stating that a care home plan would “detract from somewhere that has strong potential to be a lively, thriving and bustling harbour and waterfront area”.

Simply Musselburgh Care Limited had not responded at the time of going to press but in a statement to the DPEA said: “The application site is considered to represent an ideal location for a care home facility.

"It is located within a settlement and enjoys good access to a range of facilities and services, including a bus-based public transport system and convenience retail outlets.

"The change of use of the facility to a care home will not have a detrimental impact on the attractiveness of the waterfront or harbour area to tourists.

“It has been conclusively demonstrated, based on past trading levels, that the uses previously occupying The Quay complex no longer represent a commercially viable enterprise.

"Efforts to market the business as a going concern over the best part of the last four years have also proved entirely unsuccessful.

“If a new use is not found for this building it will be boarded up and become a magnet for vandalism.

"In such circumstances its conversion to a care home offering facilities for the elderly provides significantly greater potential to regenerate the area.”

A council spokesperson said: “Any submissions made to an ongoing appeal may require the council to provide further formal comment on them.”