While expressing sympathy with the plight of St Mary’s Monastery on Kinnoull Hill, councillor Willie Wilson used his casting vote as development control committee convener to reject a financial lifeline.
“In addition, it is felt that the location will fundamentally change the character and appearance of the area, which is an important visual and open space.”
Councillor Ken Lyall said he felt “uncomfortable” that the financial future of the monastery had been tied in with what should, for the committee, just be a planning application.
Mr Wilson moved refusal, saying that it was a difficult decision to take as it involved Perth’s heritage.
He said he felt the application was premature and other ways of funding regeneration should be explored.
Councillor John Kellas moved that they should approve the plan as it was in the public interest to secure the economic and social benefit in helping the monastery to survive.
The committee vote was split evenly five for and against and Mr Wilson used his casting vote to see the outline application rejected.
Mr Mulligan will seek urgent talks with the council to stave off the closure of St Mary’s.
He said that the rejection of housing plans on land owned by the monastery meant they were facing the real risk of closure.
Mr Mulligan said, “Our hopes were raised when we saw so many members of the public at the meeting, and heard the positive support from many councillors.
“Unfortunately, we lost by the narrowest of margins and all our hard work has come to nothing.”
“We now face an immediate and fundamental crisis in the future operation of St Mary’s.
“We will also seek an urgent meeting with council leader Ian Miller to discuss our options and our future in Perth.”
Mr Mulligan said, “St Mary’s would like to put on record our appreciation for the massive support that we have had in recent weeks and for the support of so many Perth and Kinross councillors.”
The B-listed monastery wanted to sell a parcel of neighbouring land to housebuilders to secure millions of pounds to invest in the 142-year-old building’s interior.
However, the prospect of 19 new houses on land next to the monastery infuriated locals, who feared it would set a precedent for future developments on fields around Kinnoull.
Local planner Ian Kelly spoke in favour of the application, claiming that despite a £1.2 million facelift, millions more were required to bring the building in line with disability and health and safety regulations.
He argued that without the funds from selling the field the monastery, which provides spiritual retreat to people from all over the world, faced an uncertain future.
Father Gerry Mulligan told the committee of his 50-year association with the monastery, which he said was desperately in need of finance.
He said, “I think it would be tragic if we lost the monastery and so many people would be deprived of the support St Mary’s can give.”
Mr Mulligan described it as a special place where people were assisted in many ways, including those struggling with addiction.
The committee heard that the way different monasteries were set up meant that St Mary’s had to “stand on its own two feet”, in a financial sense, and there was no central money pot.
Other supporters said it regularly welcomed people from around the world, hosting around 10,000 visitors a year who made a considerable, positive impact on the local economy.
Speaking against the application, Norman Renfrew, chairman of the Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park Group, said the committee should preserve the “landscape heritage.”
He said he knew that of 60 acres of land in private ownership on Kinnoull Hill, developers were “lurking” around 40 acres.
Mr Renfrew said they could not have the land “nibbled away” and should stick to their planning policies.
He said, “You can’t do planning by emotion.”
Planning officers recommended refusal, saying, “The principle of development on this site is not acceptable as it is located outwith the settlement boundary in an area zoned as an area of great landscape value.
Continued…