OAP says she will feel like 'a prisoner in her home' when a shop next door is extended

Betty Revill, 87, has lived in her house in Bute Street for more than 50 years and says the expansion of the convenience store to the front will obscure her view.

The application by shopkeeper G Singh to extend the premises was rejected by the planning board in September 2018 but that decision has now been overturned following an appeal to the Local Review Body.

Mrs Revill said: "This extension would cut out any view west towards the bus stop and would be like living in a prison with a wall hovering over me.

"This would be bad enough but this new gable end will create an extended alleyway beside my property containing unsightly bins and, in my mind, a haven for unsightly guests, animal or human, which cannot be seen from the road."

The application had been originally turned down because the planning board felt it would 'compromise the established front line along Bute Street, fail to reflect local architecture and adversely impact upon the character and residential amenity and maintenance of this part of Gourock as a successful place'.

The application received 241 letters of support and 7 against.

Mrs Revill says she is dismayed by the successful appeal and feels 'hemmed in'

She said: "I'm basically housebound as it is - I only get out when my son takes me out in the car.

"I don't get out and the only thing I have is a wee window.

"Now I will be looking at a brick wall.

"It will obstruct my view.

"It's all I've got, the view from the window and I can see the water.

"I've lived here for more than 50 years and I've been very happy in this house.

"This has upset me."

Mrs Revill's son Ronnie fears the disruption of building work will also take its toll on his mum's health.

He said: "It's a bad decision.

"It will be bad for my mother's health too and she is concerned about the alleyway running up the side of the building.

"It's stressful for her and if anything it's going to get worse when they start construction."

The local review body heard the shop served customers in Midton and Trumpethill and that the only other shops in the area were at Tower Drive and Cowal View.

But Councillor Ciano Rebecchi made a motion to reject the appeal and uphold the previous decision.

He said: "It will be out of line with the rest of the street and will stick out like a sore thumb."

Councillor Jim Clocherty moved to grant the appeal, saying: "This shop has been a good local shop and local people use it.

"I can understand looking at the objections to it but I view this differently.

"I see the front as waste ground not being used.

"I can understand the reasons why planners had refused it but bearing in mind what we have done previously in this committee to support small businesses I move to grant this application."

The application was passed 3-2 with three abstentions.

The Tele invited the owners of the shop to comment but received no response.