Residents of Longforgan have launched a campaign to block any major new housebuilding in the Carse of Gowrie village.
Already designated a conservation area, locals fear the inclusion of sites for a further 75 homes in Perth and Kinross Council’s development plan would push traffic congestion to intolerable levels.
As part of the campaign to urge planners to reconsider the matter and to have the sites removed from the finalised development plan a 360-signature petition has been collected.
The deadline for objections to be lodged is looming and local people are calling for a master plan for the future of Longforgan to be produced through a conservation area appraisal.
”We are not against some development but the scale and full adverse effects of the current applications on the village has to be considered and only after full public discussion,” said community council chairman Alan Muir.
”Our eventual aim is to have a new hall and upgraded play area, but the imposition of 75 houses can only severely affect everyone on the village and our school is already at full pupil capacity.
”Around 75 more houses would mean 150 car trips each day adding to our overcrowded Main Street and feeder roads.
”Perthshire has 35 areas under conservation orders and Longforgan is one of the 16 villages still waiting for a full conservation appraisal.
”Longforgan deserves that appraisal before this local plan is finalised.’Intolerable’ congestion”The sites are outside the defined village settlement area designated by a Scottish appeal in 1996. No reasons have been given for this enlargement other than obvious commercial gain.
”Longforgan has already been considerably enlarged in recent past years.
”Other smaller developments are underway or completed in the village and, since the last local plan, both individual and multi-unit peripheral building have been allowed.
”Now Perth and Kinross Council must work with our community to ensure the best future for Longforgan.”
The council has been stressing that the last chance to submit representations on the Perth and Kinross Proposed Local Development Plan (LDP) falls in the next fews days.
The representation period for the LDP closes at 4pm on Tuesday.
This is the final opportunity for people to consider the proposals in the LDP and make their views known on whether they wish to see any changes to the plan.
The LDP sets out the council’s vision for future development across the area and identifies a land-use framework for housing development, employment land, transport infrastructure and areas of environmental importance that will be protected.Seventy five more housesThe proposed plan also brings together previously separate local area plans and policies into one comprehensive document that considers the future sustainable development of the whole of Perth and Kinross.
Major issues included are plans for a new cross Tay link road route corridor, from the A9 north of Inveralmond linking to the A93 and A94 north of Scone, and a boundary for the Perth Green Belt.
Land has been identified for thousands of additional houses to be built before 2024 around Perth and Kinross and other sites identified for employment use to ensure the economy of Perth and Kinross can be competitive and grow sustainably.
The proposed plan is available to view online at www.pkc.gov.uk/ProposedLDP, where comments can also be submitted.
Anyone who wishes to make representation, or has any questions, should contact the local development plan team on 01738 475300 or email DevelopmentPlan@pkc.gov.uk.