Protestors in anti-pollution masks gathered in Scone to highlight their concern that new housing may harm the village’s air quality.
Scone and District Community Council wants to see a major traffic study carried out before the council contemplates allowing more than 700 homes to be built.
The campaigners stood outside the village’s Post Office on Perth Road to make their point — the same location chosen for the installation of Friends of the Earth clean air monitoring equipment earlier this year.
It was left to record for two weeks before being sent to the charity for analysis, recording air quality levels (40 microgram/m3) that exceeded EU levels.
Further equipment will be installed at other locations in the village in the new year, with results expected by the end of February.
In the meantime, the initial findings have been enough to worry residents and members of the community council, including its secretary Hazel Mackinnon.
She said the community council had waited for years before taking an official position on A&J Stephen’s ambitious plan for the north of the village.
The results of a survey by the Scone Study Group, which saw more than 2,000 people canvassed and almost half of that number respond negatively, have now convinced members they must oppose the housing.
Hazel said: “I do think there would be greater acceptance if the housing was delayed until after the Cross Tay Link Road is constructed.
“No matter whether that happens or not, a survey of all the lorries that come through Scone would be very helpful.
“We do have concerns about the problems the link road itself could create in east Perthshire communities such as Coupar Angus and Balbeggie.
“We are trying to arrange a meeting of all the community councils along the A94 corridor to discuss the wider implication of all proposals for this area.
“In the meantime, I would urge residents to look at A&J Stephen’s application and comment before the January 27 deadline.”
The application document amounts to 1,332 pages and weighs-in at 3.2kg.
Opponents have questioned the timing of its submission to Perth and Kinross Council, which means residents must study hundreds of pages, diagrams, maps and reports over the festive and new year period.
A&J Stephen’s managing director John Stephen, however, said, “The planning application process is detailed and onerous to ensure that the applicant meets the requirements of Perth and Kinross Council and the Scottish Government and adheres to robust environmental legislation.
“It took many months to bring the application forward, resulting in the comprehensive package that was submitted to the council on December 12.
“As much as we would like to have submitted the application some time ago, we were not in a position to do so due to the significant volume of work involved in preparing an application of this type.
“In line with all planning applications, there is a standard period for comments.
“To take account of the Christmas holidays, however, we understand that Perth and Kinross Council has extended this period so anyone wishing to comment on the application would not be disadvantaged.”
Councillor Lewis Simpson is unconvinced and said: “Many people have spoken to me about the remarkable coincidence of the festive period and the timing of an over 1,300 page planning application weighing over 3kg.
“I will continue to work with the people of Scone and the surrounding area to try to ensure that they are not exploited by the planning process, despite the number of blockages placed in my way.”
