A section of Troon's South Beach Car Park in Ayrshire has been earmarked for a mobile sauna proposal, one of two such ventures planned for the region. Ayrshire Live reports that plans for the new attraction have been lodged with South Ayrshire Council for consideration.
Proposal Details
The applicants, Glasgow-based Bide Sauna Ltd, are seeking a change of use within the car park to site the sauna. The company has been selected by the local authority's Estates Department as their preferred operator. The South Beach venture is one of two locations in South Ayrshire where the saunas could be housed; the other location is not yet known.
An on-site photo shows the mobile sauna would occupy approximately three car park spaces in a corner of the car park.
Supporting Statement
A supporting statement says: "The proposal comprises the siting of a self-contained, trailer-mounted sauna unit within an existing public car park (South Beach Car Park, Troon). The unit is fully mobile and trailer-based and requires no permanent foundations or groundworks. It can be removed from site at any time."
While mobile, the sauna would remain in position for operational periods and would not be removed daily. An analogy is made to Barbos sauna in Aberdeen, which has local planning permission to operate in a council parking area.
The statement adds: "The use is small-scale and low intensity, with customers attending on a managed, booking-based system and be always staffed during operational hours. The site is located within an existing public car park and will remain in active use as such. The sauna units will occupy a limited number of parking spaces (estimated three), ensuring that the primary function of the car park is retained. Customer use of the car park would also be limited due to the 8-person limit of the sauna, and the encouraged use of alternative transport."
The positioning has been agreed in principle with the Council's Estates Department following a joint site visit in February.
Operational Details
If approved, the expected operational hours would be 10am to 8pm, staffed by one to two people. The supporting statement concludes: "The proposal represents a small-scale, reversible and well-managed use of existing public land. This proposal is in response to winning a public bid run through the council Estates department, intending to make this precise usage available."
The proposals are listed as 'pending consideration' on South Ayrshire Council's online planning portal, with a decision expected in August.
