Parking provision must be a top priority if Kinross is to “flourish and become a more interesting and vibrant place to visit and to live”, according to a local church.
Kinross Parish Church, which gave up land for the old Kinross High School, is urging Perth and Kinross Council to ensure that, in any future development of the site, part of the land is retained for community parking.
The land is now for sale and a pre-application consultation has been held by Persimmon Homes for a housing development on the site.
The plea comes in an open letter from Jaffrey Weir, the church’s session clerk, following a meeting with Kinross and Milnathort Community Councils and the Kinross-shire ward councillors Joe Giacopazzi, Willie Robertson, Dave Cuthbert and Mike Barnacle.
At the meeting it was agreed that the common objective was to achieve free community parking for 60 to 70 cars on part of the development site for the benefit of the Kinross community.
“The land that is to be developed was the former glebe of the church and was rented initially to the council for a peppercorn rent and then bought for a very small sum on the proviso that it would be used for the school and for the benefit of the community,” Mr Weir said.
“We feel, as Kinross Parish Church, that this principle should be adhered to now under this development.”
Since the school closed, parts of the site have been available for car parking and the church considers that these spaces support the town centre and the numerous church and community events at Kinross Parish Church and St James Catholic Church.
Mr Weir said: “If these car parking facilities disappear, then Station Road and the Muirs will be chaotic for parking and for bus, lorry and car drivers.
“Retaining free community parking on some of the land on the old school site is, therefore, important for the community as a whole, the businesses within Kinross, and for tourists hence the agreement across the board by the community councils and councillors.”
Both community councils have agreed that a parking survey of the area should take place and volunteers are to be sought so that there is a record of the numbers of cars using the old high school site and parking on the Muirs and Station Road. The public will also be asked what they want to happen on the old school site.
Copies of the survey form will also be available from the church’s office in Station Road and in the Kinross-shire Newsletter.
“I would encourage residents of Kinross-shire to complete the survey and ensure that it is returned to the community councils or their local councillor,” said Mr Weir.
Councillor Giacopazzi has welcomed the prospect of development in Kinross involving the school site, the county buildings and the town hall but warned that measures must be taken to accommodate the motorist if a “parking crisis” is to be averted.