David Murray

the woodland,” he claimed. “It was all very convenient,” he added.

Mr Murray went on to reveal that he had also written to Perthshire North MSP John Swinney about the seemingly unauthorised work and that Mr Swinney had in turn wrote to PKC again raising Mr Murray’s concerns about the removal of trees.

The council’s interim head of planning, Nick Brian, replied to Mr Swinney claiming his staff were “unaware of any unauthorised works” and that “no enforcement action” had been taken by the council.

In correspondence seen by the PA Mr Brian told Mr Swinney: “Whilst I appreciate the concerns expressed by local residents who are clearly not happy by [sic] the democratic decision to grant consent on this site, I would advise that as we are not aware of any unauthorised works then no enforcement action has been taken by the council.”

Asked to respond to Mr Murray’s complaints, a PKC spokesperson said yesterday: “Perth and Kinross has previously advised Mr Murray that from the outset the approved development at Tullybelton was always for a poultry layer breeding farm for the sole production of eggs.

“The applicant’s PAN was presented to the council’s development management committee on March 16, 2016. The report clearly outlines that the proposed facility is for the production of eggs.

“The subsequent planning application committee report of November 16, 2016, also clearly describes the proposed development to be for the production of eggs. The intended use has not changed during the planning process. No mistake was made nor was there a failure in the council’s understanding of what was being applied for.”

In direct contradiction to Mr Brian’s statement to Mr Swinney, the council spokesperson added: “With regards to woodland being destroyed prior to the discharging of the ecology condition, the applicant did go on site to conduct drainage surveys and some trees were felled. This was reported to the council and an enforcement officer visited the site on the same day and all work on site was stopped immediately.”

Excavator started ripping through the woodland