Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Claims Perthshire village has been “cut in two” by homeowner’s fence

The village of Balnaguard, near Ballinluig.
The village of Balnaguard, near Ballinluig.

Experts are urging council officials to save a “well used” path after a homeowner was accused of cutting a village in half by blocking it off.

The path, which runs past a cottage called Eldorado and is one of a network between houses in Balnaguard, near Ballinluig, was closed off after the owner built a new fence.

However he faces being forced to tear it down after officials decided his retrospective planning application must go before a council committee.

The application has attracted objections from other residents in the area, who claim the path has been in use for at least 60 years and believe it is a right of way to nearby Balnaguard Glen.

The Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee will decide whether or not the fence can remain.

One objector wrote on the council’s planning website: “I have lived in Balnaguard since 1955.

“I have seen many people over the years using the same pathway at the side of Eldorado to go up the hill or visit the SSSI.

“As the change of use has already taken place some months ago, it has split the village as we have always known it.”

Another added: “Balnaguard is an old village. Part of its character is the network of narrow roads and pathways that link all the houses.

“It is an intrinsic part of village life that we visit one another via this pathway and it is vital that it is maintained if the village is not to be split into enclaves.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Rights Of Way Society urged a rethink.

She said: “Although the path affected by the planning application is not recorded as a right of way, it is reportedly well-used and valued by residents of Balnaguard and others.

“It appears to form a vital link in the network of tracks and paths that make up the fabric of Balnaguard and as such is an important part of the village’s amenity.

“We are informed that Perth and Kinross Council’s planning policy defends well-used paths even if they are not designated core paths or recorded rights of way. As such, we hope that this route is protected for current and future generations of villagers and others to enjoy.”

A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council confirmed the application would go before a committee but declined to comment further.

The owner of Eldorado did not respond to request for comment.