The first Thai restaurant in Pitlochry – and all of Highland Perthshire – could be open soon after a U-turn by the council.
Members of Perth and Kinross’s property sub-committee have agreed that part of the car park on Rie-Achan Road can go out for lease.
This is after the same committee voted twice – in June 2021 and January 2022 – not to allow the land to be marketed.
The latest decision could pave the way for a Pitlochry family to fulfil their dream of opening a Thai restaurant in two restored train carriages there.
The Wee Choo-Choo would be funded by Pitlochry and Moulin Community Council deputy secretary Fergus McCallum and run by his Thai-born wife Isara and their daughter Mia, 20.
In April 2021 they were granted planning permission to set up a restaurant on the site.
But this is only subject to a lease, which is now going to be advertised.
Should the family’s bid for it be accepted, the restaurant could be open by summer 2023.
‘Nowhere else has this’
Fergus McCallum told The Courier after Monday’s property sub-committee meeting: “There is no Thai restaurant in Highland Perthshire and there’s nowhere else that has a train for a restaurant.”
He added: “The reason we got planning permission was because we were able to demonstrate that it would bring new tourists by train, rather than car, and have a net economic benefit.
“It gives my first generation immigrant daughter and first generation immigrant wife, who now have dual nationality, a job in the business and community.”
Parking query
The restaurant idea is not without controversy though.
The previous refusals were on parking grounds so PKC commissioned transport consultants SYSTRA – who then appointed a professional data company – to undertake a traffic survey.
Studies took place in March 2022 and July 2022 for comparison.
Objector Mark Wood – who runs nearby Mackenzie’s Coffee House on Atholl Road – questioned the survey’s accuracy.
The local businessman claimed there were “373 spaces compared to the 603 spaces identified by the survey”.
He highlighted the report included privately-operated car parks – such as the Co-op’s – and debated the number of on-street unmarked bays.
Mr Wood said problem parking was a regular issue in Pitlochry, particularly on a narrower stretch of Atholl Road between East Moulin Road and the escape route where “jams often occur”.
He said: “If this is implemented then the lost spaces will need to be accommodated within the town’s car parks which are already close to capacity according to the report.”
Survey makes the difference
But Convener Grant Laing was satisfied with the survey.
“I have sat on this committee twice before with different views each time,” he said.
“I feel the change for me is having the car park survey done.
“Before, we were just listening to opinion.”
His motion to market the land was approved.
The site would be advertised for two months before a decision is made, possibly in spring 2023.
Could be installed ‘at good speed’
Pharmaceuticals executive Mr McCallum, 56, pointed to a petition signed by 1,250 people in support of The Wee Choo-Choo.
“One or two business people have opposed but I would think that the vast majority of the population of Pitlochry are looking forward to this,” he said.
“We have a beautifully restored train, which we have planning permission for, and are absolutely going to go for it.
“It has been built off-site so it is fitted and ready.
“It would come in the back of a lorry so we should be able to install it at a good speed – providing we get the go-ahead.”
Conversation