Pitlochry flats on former sporting centre is approved

Feb 19 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

HUGELY-CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn a former Highland Perthshire sporting complex into a housing development have been approved.

A total of 146 residents wrote to Perth and Kinross Council voicing their concerns over Upland Developments’ 22-flat project on the site of Pitlochry’s Atholl curling rink.

Campaigner Jim Brown spoke at this week’s meeting of the local authority’s development control committee. He said the percentage of locals submitting their views was greater than those that protested during the campaign to rid Perth of Grundon Waste Management’s infamous Shore Road incinerator proposals.

Mr Brown insisted there were “very good reasons” for the tide of animosity.

He told councillors: “The scale of the project is far too large and will impact on the nearby area’s conservation status. The materials set to be used are not in-keeping with others locally.

“There is a possibility to house up to 88 people. The flats will not just be allocated to elderly people – single people could move into the area, or families with children.

“What facilities are there for children in a development like this?

“In revised plans, the architect included a communal seating area, but it is no bigger than a standard-sized household bathroom.

“The site is so small that four trees will have to be felled even though they are in an important group.

“We’ve lived with this building (the ice rink) for 50 years, but what do you replace it with?

“I would suggest an alternative sports facility but – given the current economic climate – I would say that’s unlikely.”

Fellow objector Helen McDade reminded elected members that Blair Atholl teenager Eve Muirhead – currently competing at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver – honed her curling skills on the Pitlochry ice.

The application was originally meant to be heard by the committee in December but was withdrawn and revised, with the number of flats reduced from 29 to 22.

Architect Steve Blennerhassett said: “We plan to bring a high-quality, low cost development to an area where there’s a requirement for this type of housing.”

Local councillor Ian Campbell listed a host of reasons why he felt the blueprint should be thrown-out.

He insisted the flats would affect the local conservation area status and were too near listed buildings.

He also claimed the design was inappropriate for the area and would lead to over-development.

Siding with the applicants, Councillor John Kellas declared: “The building in place at the moment is imposing and in quite a poor state.”

The development was approved by eight votes to four.