A major housing development in Perthshire has been approved after sparking prolonged debate between councillors yesterday.
Plans for 60 houses in Rattray split opinion, resulting in members making three different proposals.
In particular, concerns were raised about the effect the main access road could have on the safety of residents.
Local members Bob Ellis and Caroline Shiers highlighted the issues they believed could have a significant impact on those living in Honeyberry Crescent, which lies next to the proposed site.
Mr Ellis suggested that entrance could be gained to the new development via Honeyberry Drive, instead, as the road there is wider and would allow building traffic to move more freely and with less risk to pedestrians.
Meanwhile, Ms Shiers asked for conditions on Kirkton Road to be considered, saying the additional access road to the new houses would lead to “limited visibility on what is already a busy road”.
Although they were both assured by John Thomson, a senior engineer at Perth and Kinross Council, that both routes met the required standards, their concerns struck a chord with Councillor Alan Livingstone.
Despite being advised that it would require a completely new application, he moved to have a decision on the plans deferred and to request the developer to take a look at creating an alternative access.
Attempts were also made to refuse the plans altogether, as some members were unhappy with the vast reduction in affordable housing requirement.
The council standard for any development larger than five properties is for at least 25% to be turned over for affordable housing.
In the case of the Rattray proposals, however, only 1.5 units the equivalent of 2.5% of the total number of houses would be required.
The development management committee was advised that without this amendment, which is allowed at the discretion of the council, building work would not go ahead.
Councillor Henry Anderson proposed an amendment to refuse the application on the grounds that this was “not acceptable”.
However, his best efforts failed to win enough support against a second amendment by Councillor John Kellas to approve the report.
Mr Kellas’s amendment also secured more votes against the original motion by Mr Livingstone and the application was given the green light.