A new restaurant and pub on one of Perth’s prime economic development sites could bring traffic, litter and noise problems, local people claim.
Efforts have been made over a number of years to attract offices and businesses to the Broxden Business Park on the city’s Western Edge, to join the Scottish Government, Scotland Transerv, Bank of Scotland and NHS Tayside’s Broxden Dental centre.
However, with no concrete interest in the plots available, it appears that Perth and Kinross Council could now admit defeat and sell the site to pub retailer and brewer Greene King.
It has unveiled plans to create family-orientated Hungry Horse restaurant and public house, together with a drive-through coffee outlet, run by Greene King.
However, nearby homeowners have already raised concerns about the impact of extra traffic including football traffic and coaches together with the potential for littering and noise nuisance.
And Councillor Willie Wilson said he fears the council is sacrificing one of the city’s finest business sites and with that, hopes of attracting top businesses to the city.
Mr Wilson said: “The site may have been marketed for several years but I firmly believe we should retain it for future potential office or business development.
“With the possible exception of the land set aside for the food and drink park, this is perhaps the prime development site in Perth.
“The proposed facilities of a pub and restaurant and drive-through coffee shop are already available in the near vicinity, where Harvester, McDonalds and Esso provide all of these services at Broxden. I also think the argument that staff from surrounding offices will pile into these facilities during coffee breaks and at lunchtimes is a spurious one.
“I also question any suggestion they will attract other businesses to Lamberkine Drive.
“I am willing to listen to arguments for these proposals but I can say now that I will take a lot of convincing to see the merits of what is proposed.”
Greene King has put out a leaflet to residents informing them of the company’s plans.
It reads: “They (the proposals) will provide a new leisure and community facility for Broxden, while creating job opportunities for local people.”
However, one resident of Innerleithen Way, who did now want to be named, contacted The Courier to express his concerns about the proposal.
He admitted to being worried the proposals would bring an increase in traffic and in littering the latter on top of that already created by existing outlets, such as McDonalds.
A spokesperson for the council said of the move: “We are aware of the proposal and have had discussions with the agent.
“We understand that as part of any submission for planning consent the developer will be lodging a statement of justification demonstrating how they consider this type of development would comply with the terms of the LDP and the specific zoning of this site.
“Until such time as we receive an application with supporting documents, we cannot give a firmer view on the acceptability or otherwise of the proposals.”