Members of a community council have accused the local authority and NHS Tayside of having a “cosy agreement” to sell land in the grounds of a Perth hospital to allow 250 homes to be built.
More than 120 residents attended a recent meeting organised by Ryden and Austin-Smith:Lord, who have been appointed master planners for the disposal of surplus land and buildings by NHS Tayside at Murray Royal Hospital in Perth.
However, Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council feels the public consultation was little more than a “charade” and its chairman Graham Fleming said he believes NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Council have a “cosy agreement” to allow 250 houses to be built on the site.
“There was significant consternation that this public consultation was little more than a charade, a planning formality to cover a cosy agreement between NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Council to sell the site with planning permission for a large housing development,” Mr Fleming said.
“NHS Tayside has signified 250 houses in the imminent local development plan. Given the lack of capacity in the road system, there was a general opinion that no additional traffic generated by a proposed development should be permitted until the traffic problem is resolved.
“Many local residents, concerned about additional traffic, also pointed out the inadequate and dangerous road infrastructure in the residential areas around the site, with narrow roads, lack of pavements and ‘rat runs’ featuring frequently in the comments.
“The lack of primary school capacity on the east side of the river was identified as yet another key issue to be taken into account for any proposed housing developments,” Mr Fleming added.
He said the list of concerns “did not stop there”.
Residents’ fears were also expressed about the fate of the walled garden, which Mr Fleming claims the planners regarded as a surplus asset.
“The planners also indicated that they intended to remove trees from the site, evoking another negative reaction from the public,” he said.
“With regard to their selling off 10 hectares of Murray Royal Hospital land, it was questioned how NHS Tayside would cope as and when there became a need to expand the current medical facilities.”
A spokesman for NHS Tayside said: “The master planner will consider all aspects before formulating the master plan for the site and has already commenced consultation with NHS Tayside’s surplus land and buildings group and various stakeholders and interested parties, in accordance with planning requirements.”
And a spokesman for the council said: “The consideration of all planning applications for major housing developments would involve an examination of the potential impact on local infrastructure.”