Dismayed by plans for a town centre development in Pitlochry, residents and businesses have banded together to identify alternative schemes to enhance the town as a prime tourist destination.
Fears have been expressed that, if given the go-ahead, Upland Developments’ application to transform the former Bank House backpackers’ hostel in Atholl Road into retail units and flats and to turn the former Baker’s Oven into a 52-bedroom hotel would damage the attractiveness of the holiday town.
Supported by the recently-formed Pitlochry Conservation Society, they have secured the help of the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow in a bid to convince the planners, officials and community councillors that the current proposal is inappropriate.
Their alternative scheme will “reflect the full communal benefits and tourist values that this properly-designated conservation area should enjoy” and they are proposing a town square, sympathetically designed, would be more in keeping with the aesthetic and historic look of the town.
Led by lecturer Neil Simpson, a team of six architectural graduates has done a site visit and will, after local consultations, generate options to develop the town centre.
The outcome will be a range of architectural drawings to be presented in late August to the community, Perth and Kinross Council development control officials, the community council, the Pitlochry Partnership and Uplands Development in a central public venue.
The graduates’ time is free of charge, though their £3600 travel, expenses and accommodation costs-plus £400 contingencies-must be met locally and residents and businesses have pledged support towards raising over 75% of this.
James Tyrrell, of the Conservation Society, said it was vital that alternative plans were drawn up. He said, “All those interested in our town’s future need to see for themselves what could be imaginatively achieved had we the good sense to see further than the quick-fix, Lego-kit build, and the sheer ugliness of the present less-than-stimulating, facility-barren, design.Lifeblood”Have no doubt, if Upland’s proposal is implemented, it will dominate the streetscape and further diminish our town centre’s attractiveness to its lifeblood, the visiting tourists.
Resident, B&B owner and secretary of the Pitlochry Conservation Society, Tony Willmore, added, “Instead of Upland’s current proposal before Perth and Kinross Council’s planning department, this alternative scheme will reflect the full communal benefits and tourist values that this properly designated conservation area should enjoy.
“Pitlochry has the exciting possibility of a fine new town square, sympathetically designed, and in keeping with the aesthetic and historic look of this picturesque Victorian Scottish town.
“Even if the project is not immediately tenable, given the financial restrictions, it will give the planners something to consider and might protect our town centre from future inappropriate development.”
The Pitlochry Conservation Society says Pitlochry has set up its stall to be “a desirable, upmarket Scottish tourist location, and not a tacky, bargain basement resort” and are urging locals to put stickers on their cars, posters in their windows and banners on the main street to demonstrate their support for the alternative proposals.