Plea to stop flat plan on site of old building

Two former chairmen of a community council have suggested a bid to build a new block of flats in Perth to“replace” one that was demolished amid a storm of controversy over four years ago should be stopped in its tracks.

Jack Rivett, who stepped down as chairman of Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council (BGKCC) last year but is still a member, believes the finish proposed for the new flatted development, which would stand where 6 to 10 East Bridge Street used to be, would be ill-suited to Bridgend’s conservation area.

Perth and Kinross Council evacuated 6 to 10 East Bridge Street back in July 2013 amid fears the building could collapse.

PKC then demolished it three months later in what some critics described at the time as an act of“apocalyptic destruction”.

Mr Rivett says in his objection to the proposal for four new flats put forward by Matthew Cowan Architectural Design Services:“I do not feel that what is proposed is suitable within the conservation area.

“The exterior finish should be suitable to blend in with the surroundings and not, as proposed, to be of white rendering.

“This area is already very short of suitable parking facilities and there is no provision mentioned for such facilities.”

Graham Fleming, another former chairman of BGKCC, has also raised an objection to the proposal, saying:“The proposal claims that ‘[the proposed building] can be considered a replacement building’but also states that ‘th [sic] proposed building is intended to be masonry construction with a render finish’.

“Such an external finish is certainly not consistent with the visual amenity of the building it replaces and is incompatible with the prevailing masonry finishes of the neighbouring properties.

“I should also add that recent developments with a similar finish ... are already looking shabby, with unacceptably disfiguring streaks running down the external walls from overflow pipes and gutters.”

The application awaits a decision from PKC planners.