CONTROVERSIAL plans to transform a former Barrhead pub into a funeral parlour are ‘back from the dead.’

The bid by Sava Estates to convert the former Hurlet Carvery appeared to be buried after East Renfrewshire Council refused planning permission.

However, the company launched an appeal with the Scottish Government, which has now overturned the council’s decision.

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The move means Sava Estates now has the green light to open the funeral home, despite opposition from nearby residents and even though the local authority’s planning committee ruled there was a lack of parking provision and a risk of congestion.

Mike Shiel, a reporter appointed by the government, decided the 69 parking spaces included in the company’s application were adequate.

“The council refused planning permission solely on the basis that the development would result in road congestion at this location and that there was a lack of parking provision,” his report stated.

“However, there are 69 parking spaces within the site and the council has provided no evidence as to why it considers this to be inadequate.

“The council’s own road services department recommended that there should be one parking space per two seats in the proposed chapel and the amount of parking provided seemed adequate. I see no reason to disagree with that view.”

Plans to turn the once-popular pub into a funeral parlour were set to be rubber-stamped in

May, when the council’s planning officers recommended the scheme for approval.

But residents living near the site feared an increase in traffic and noise pollution.

The planning committee rejected the proposals. However, in its appeal, Sava blasted that decision as “flawed” and “incompetent.”

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Mr Shiel found there was “unlikely to be any increase in the use of the access to the site” from Glasgow Road.

“With regards to the access from the A726 Hurlet Road, Transport Scotland did not advise against the granting of planning permission, nor did it suggest that any conditions be imposed,” the report added.

He added: “I fully understand the concerns of the occupants of the nearby Hurlet Cottages about their access to and from this junction. However, this is an existing problem and I am not convinced that the funeral parlour would exacerbate it.”

Earlier this year, a multi-million pound plan to build East Renfrewshire’s first crematorium next to St Conval’s Cemetery – a short distance from the funeral parlour site – was approved.

Mr Shiel said: “This will be a much more significant development in the greenbelt, which the council judged to be acceptable.”

The funeral parlour is expected to handle between 500 and 1,000 services per year.

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Most will take place away from the parlour, in a church or crematorium.

Plans show the premises would be open from 9am to 5pm seven days a week.

An appeal against the Scottish Government’s ruling could be made to the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

A letter detailing the decision has been sent to relevant parties, stating any appeal must be made within six weeks and can only be made on a point of law.