Members of a small River Tay community are fighting to prevent a developer building luxury eco homes on the banks of Scotland’s longest river.
They believe recent earth works near the hamlet Cargill mark the first stage in a plan to build at least two properties overlooking Cargill Beat.
That is a scenic stretch of the Tay famous for salmon fishing, freshwater pearl mussels, beavers and otters, among other wildlife.
Retired sexual health consultant Michael Foreman bought Balhomie House, a mansion overlooking the river, around three years ago. He previously lived in Edinburgh.
Estate agents previously advertised the property at offers over £1.3m.
Barrister Sir Ernest Moon reportedly built the grand home at the turn of the 20th century because his wife fell in love with the view of the river from the spot.
Yet, construction work next to his home shocked Michael earlier this year.
“I went down to the river and saw a large dirt track had been formed between our house and the river.
“There was a large area that had been devastated and cleared that was big enough to put a house in.
“The second time I went down I met a man who introduced himself as Timothy Coupe, the developer.
“We had a conversation where he said he was going to get planning permission for a house and he showed me where that house would be.”
Path links A93 and River Tay
A Perth and Kinross Council planner will inspect the track for a second time shortly, after initially judging the track work did not require a planning application.
Michael requested the review.
“They should determine that the work that has been carried out is not consistent with land use.
“And they should place an enforcement order to have this land restored to what it was.
“And not consider an application for planning (for housing) until there has been some form of restitution.”
Construction workers spent weeks in March and April earlier this year shaping the mostly dirt track linking a layby on the A93 around nine miles from Perth with an overgrown tennis court that was once part of Balhomie House.
The contractors have built in drainage to two parts of the landrover track. The path stretches roughly 400m and is topped with hardstanding at the road end.
Threat to wildlife around Balhomie House
Michael and other neighbours are determined to fight what they understand to be a housing proposal.
“[The work] looks to me like speculation, gambling on someone else’s land,” he said.
“It has no respect for the neighbourhood. It has no respect for the land. And it is immoral.”
Neighbour George Logan is a photographer.
He has worked for British Geological Survey, Scottish Natural Heritage (now NatureScot) and Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust.
The threat to both older trees and wildlife worries him.
“It’s a wonderful habitat. They will destroy that habitat,” he said.
“There will be many more trees cut down than they have so far.
“It’s a habitat for comma butterfly, numerous moths, woodcock, nesting buzzards and woodpecker, with a sizeable population of long tailed tits amongst other species.
“Butterfly orchids are also making an appearance these past few years.”
“You’ll get pine marten coming through, otter and beaver by the riverbank. I just saw them down there the other night.”
Track building work is necessary maintenance
Sorcha Bruce, from nearby Meigle, currently owns the land with other members of her family.
She declined to comment and would not say who had paid for the earthworks on her property.
It is, however, understood she believes the work consists of necessary maintenance on an existing and previously overgrown track between the layby and the river.
A Perth and Kinross Council spokeswoman issued a statement to confirm the authority was aware of the neighbours’ concerns.
“Following a review of all the available information, our initial assessment is these works would not have required planning permission.
“However, we will meet the resident to discuss their concerns before a final report is published.”
Mr Coupe did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.
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