Ardler residents will urge the farmer behind plans for a chicken farm to tear up his business blueprint and start again.
Residents have said they cannot countenance the “industrial scale” development so close to their homes.
Hours before staging a second public meeting, farmer Peter Grewar contacted neighbours to let them know he has temporarily withdrawn his application.
He has accepted the community had not been part of discussions and wanted to give people more time to discuss the plans with him and engage “in a constructive manner”.
A working group is being set-up by the community and it is hoped members will stage the first talks with the farmer by the end of the year.
They will insist the farmer considers alternative sites for the 32,000-chicken farm.
Mr Grewar said: “While we have done everything that was required of us in terms of extensive pre-application discussions with Perth and Kinross Council, we would accept that the people of Ardler and the surrounding area have not been part of these discussions and, further, we recognise that they have not felt they have been given enough time to fully appraise and comment on the application.
“Therefore, we have given instruction to temporarily withdraw the planning application so that local residents are given the time that they have asked for to look at this.
“We hope that the local community engages with us over the coming months in a constructive manner.”
Local resident Anthony Troon was among the 60 or so people who packed into the Ardler Tavern to continue discussions of the plans.
He said residents welcomed Mr Grewar’s action but believes there remains significant anger over the proposal.
“I don’t think anyone has said that Peter Grewar’s chicken farm plan should not go ahead. Everyone wants to be constructive. We want to go forward in a sensible manner that involves consultation and is in the best interest of the village and the farm.
“There is still a lot of anger about the late stage at which Mr Grewar has started to speak to the community.
“There is also clearly a feeling that the development, if it goes ahead, should not be this close to the village and homes.
“We believe there are alternative sites for the chicken farm and will be asking Mr Grewar to consider these.”
Mr Troon added: “At the meeting, a number of people offered to form a smaller consultation group.
“We hope they will be able to meet with Mr Grewar before Christmas to let him know our thoughts.”
