A local businessman has accused Midlothian Council of manipulating a vote on his plans to build housing on a former gas works with ‘inflammatory language’ and a flawed process.

J McHale said he was ready to invest up to £4million building 14 houses at the former Arniston Gas Works, near Gorebridge, but his application was refused by the council’s planning committee.

Now, in an appeal to Scottish Ministers, agents on his behalf have claimed he was denied ‘fair process’.

They described language, surrounding claims the site may have contaminated ground, as ‘inflammatory’ and without evidence and say it was called in for discussion at the committee in October, instead of being given a chance of appeal to the local authority’s own appeal body which had ruled in favour of housing on the s

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