Councillors blast Scope as Scone supermarket plan is pushed through

Dec 11 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A BITTER dispute over the proposed creation of a Perthshire supermarket this week ended in defeat for protesters.

A campaign group opposed to a 3,500 sq. metre food store being built adjacent to Scone’s park-and-ride car park took their cause to Perth and Kinross Council on Wednesday. But their pleas fell on deaf ears.

A meeting heard from Jim Lochhead, planning manager with supermarket developers A&J Stephen, who insisted councillors were obliged to side with planning officials recommending the David Douglas Avenue scheme’s approval.

“The need for a supermarket on the east side of the Tay has been established by independent studies commissioned by the council,” Mr Lochhead declared.

“There are many people against this and many in favour, but where better to establish a new store than beside a park-and-ride?”

Mr Lochhead’s alternative sites for the building – on a works yard in central Scone and at the village’s Wheel Inn – had been ruled out.

However, his claim residents in Perth’s Bridgend district could look forward to less congestion in the area when the supermarket opens was fiercely disputed by opponents.

His view that the project’s impact on small traders in Scone would be “limited” was also taken to task.

Speaking on behalf of ScOPE’ (Scone Organisation for the Protection of the Environment) and the village’s “silent majority,” resident Fiona Robertson insisted the store would cause gridlock in Scone.

“There are already tailbacks when people park up for petrol and go and get their shopping,” she said.

“When asked about the plan by the community council, 380 people said ‘no’ to it and only nine were in favour.

“It wouldn’t necessarily stop people shopping in Perth. I’m not saying we would boycott the supermarket but we would continue to use larger stores elsewhere.

“Business owners in Scone are very anxious about the plan and believe it would be detrimental to their livelihoods.”

Hitting out at an alleged lack of consultation by the developers, local Councillor and postmaster Lewis Simpson claimed the store would lead to Scone becoming “a dead suburb,” with mooted traffic-calming measures likely to create ’rat runs.’

“No one has approached me or my wife or, to my knowledge, any other shopkeeper to ask about the potential effect on our incomes,” Mr Simpson said.

Endorsing PKC development quality manager Nick Brian’s view that the store could potentially tap in to spending power worth almost £20million from its immediate catchment area, committee chief Willie Wilson called for A&J Stephen’s bid to be sanctioned.

“This has been a controversial issue in Scone, “he said. “I can understand the concerns but I am disappointed ScOPE have not brought forward evidence to support their opinions.”

Every councillor present, bar Mr Simpson and Ann Gaunt, voted to approve the scheme.