Members of a community group remain “upbeat” despite admitting defeat in their bid to take Perth and Kinross Council to court.
Glenfarg Community Company had proposed to take the local authority to the Court of Session after being incensed by a local review body decision to grant permission for Glenfarg Hotel to be converted into 12 flats.
The controversial ruling overturned a previous refusal for the project.
However, after seeking legal advice from solicitors, the local group has now decided not to proceed with the “costly” legal action, which was estimated at around £40,000.
Secretary Kate Armstrong explained: “We obtained excellent legal advice from a firm of solicitors and from that we were assured of the validity of our complaint.
“However, despite having generous offers of financial help and the likelihood of help from Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB), we realise that ultimately all costs would be met by the public purse, be it from the council, should they be found liable, or from SLAB.
“Our chosen route is, we believe, the responsible way forward in this sorry and sad affair which has seen our confidence in our local government totally eroded.”
“The company is instead lodging an official complaint with Perth and Kinross Council, outlining in full all aspects of the procedural breaches and breaches of the Scottish Government’s The Councillors’ Code of Conduct: 3rd Edition.”
Mrs Armstrong said Perth and Kinross Council have ignored their own policies through the contentious local review body decision.
She claimed the move was against councillors’ code of conduct and Scottish Government planning policy.
“We hope that our responsible approach will set a good example to the council and that all residents and communities across Perthshire and Kinross-shire can be assured that their interests are being respected by their local authority,” she added.
“Challenging times, but our never say die attitude will carry us through.”
Company board member Bill Macpherson added: “It is with sorrow we say goodbye to a viable hotel and a valued local resource thanks to the inability of the local council to uphold its own policies.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “We have not received any complaint to date from the Glenfarg Community Company.
“Any complaint we receive will be handled under normal procedures and the council will respond directly to the complainer in due course.”
Glenfarg Community Company are continuing to work with the Scottish Government’s Community Right to Buy team, funding agencies and others to try to ensure that Glenfarg will see the re-establishment of a village social hub in the future.
