A revised application by Upland Developments for a development in the centre of Pitlochry has again failed to impress locals.
The budget motel and mini-supermarket plans continue to be opposed and are deemed “totally inappropriate,” already attracting several objections.
In their latest proposal, the Aviemore developers appear to have acceded to pressure to create a town square. While the previous application would have had the paths of motorists and pedestrians crossing, this has been altered to stop vehicles entering the town square.
Car parking has also been limited to the entrance nearest to Bonnethill Road, with 12 spaces allocated for the development.
However, this has raised concerns with those who have protested against the idea, with members of the Pitlochry Conservation Society describing the changes as “odd”.
Founding member Roger West said, “It seems very odd to have no parking in such a large development and one, rather cynically, wonders if this ‘town square’ will be adopted as the car park should the plans get the go-ahead.”
Other revisions preserve the much-loved view of the distinctive tower of the Church of Scotland.
There is one area that the developers have continued to stand their ground on and that is the demolition of Bank House. Their new design document states, “Any proposal to retain/incorporate Bank House would inevitably compromise the design, to a degree completely disproportionate to any merit it may have as a building.”
Upland also described the former Greggs bakery building as “little more than a utilitarian shed” and claimed both it and Bank House had “outlived” their economic viability.
A public meeting, exhibiting both the old and new plans, has been organised byPitlochry and Moulin Community Council and will take place on March 13 in Pitlochry Town Hall. The deadline for submitting objections is March 18.