The owner of a Scottish mansion dubbed ‘Castle McGlasto’ after furious neighbours complained about rowdy outdoor parties is fighting to overturn a council ban from letting the property out to Airbnb guests.
Police have been called nearly 30 times to deal with reports of anti-social behaviour at Invergare Castle near Helensburgh, Argyll amid claims guests have climbed the turrets of the 13-bedroom Baronial home-turned-party pad, lobbed bottles of Buckfast and sung sectarian songs.
Graham Gardner, a dentist who bought the B-listed castle for £170,000 and spent £800,000 refurbishing it, has now been banned by Argyll and Bute Council from renting out the £1,200-a-night property on Airbnb.
He was accused of violating planning regulations at his 13-bedroom house and the council ordered that lettings be halted. Mr Gardner has now lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government in a bid to reverse the council ruling.
A Scottish property that was once called ‘Castle McGlasto,’ by furious neighbours who complained about its rowdy outside parties has been renamed to the present owner. He is trying to reverse a city ban on letting it to Airbnb visitors.
Graham Gardner, a dentist who bought the B-listed castle for £170,000 and spent £800,000 refurbishing it with his wife (both pictured), has now been banned by Argyll and Bute Council from renting out the £1,200-a-night property on Airbnb
Nearly 30 police officers were called to investigate reports of antisocial behavior at Invergare Castle, Argyll. This is the staircase.
According to the council, he was in violation of planning rules for his home with 13 bedrooms and he was ordered to stop letting. Photo of one bedroom
The picture shows a room for the family with a table at the pool in the Scottish country mansion.
This map shows the location of Invergare Castle near Helensburgh, Argyll
His representative stated that the castle owner did not violate planning laws and claimed the enforcement notice had been ‘excessive’. He also said the court was failing to give time to deal with any booked bookings.
The enforcement notice stated that it was not applicable or excessive for the reason noted above and did not give a time frame to address the breach. This enforcement notice must be nullified.
Gardner earlier pledged to take action against troublemakers.
“We are aware of the noise monitoring equipment that is located at our neighbor’s property. This has not detected any noise from our home. We will monitor the activities of our guests and keep everyone happy.
The property’s listing on Airbnb states that guests cannot have ‘loud music after 10pm’ and ‘no external/third party speaker systems’.
An earlier meeting of Rhu and Shandon Community Council had heard inspector Roddy MacNeill of Police Scotland detail their involvement at the house.
He said: ‘In total there have been 28 incident reports recorded, so it is regular, but some of them will be multiple calls.
‘We go and we deal with what is in front of us. There is a chance that we will take the sound-making equipment out of the property, but what complicates it is that it’s different people each time, so we would need to test the water with it. It
‘It’s a unique situation but it’s very much on our radar.’
Argyll and Bute Council’s enforcement notice stated: ‘Having regard to the scale and proposed nature and pattern of the proposed use in conjunction with the proximity of dwellinghouses within a uniformly residential area, the proposal would be severely detrimental to the residential amenities of residents.
Mr Gardner had earlier vowed to clampdown on troublemakers, insisting: ‘Guests are warned to respect our neighbours and keep noise down’. Pictured, the kitchen
Airbnb lists the property as having no ‘loud music beyond 10pm’ or ‘external/third-party speaker systems’. Pictured, ground floor layout
The council claimed he had breached planning rules at the 13-bedroom home and ordered a halt to letting. Pictured, first floor layout
They added: ‘Environmental Health has concluded that this type of proposal could give cause for noise breakout causing nuisance to neighbouring residential properties.
‘It could be taken out of the property. However, it is complicated by the fact that different people use it each time. We would need to test the water with it. has not been demonstrated that potential impacts upon the residential character and amenities of the local area can be satisfactorily mitigated by means of management or planning mechanisms including planning conditions or a ‘good neighbour agreement’.’
The reporter will make a decision within the appropriate time.
Now styled as a castle, Invergare was a 19th Century mansion at the centre of a murder mystery that scandalised Victorian society.
Madeleine Smith lived in the mansion and was convicted of murder 150 years ago after she drank arsenic-laced cocoa.
Pierre Emile L’Angelier, a middle-aged clerk was accused of Smith’s giving the fatal drink. Scotland was gripped by the case and it led to the nation’s first ever unproven verdict.
Smith fled America to marry three times, and she died at the age of 92.