Stop-gap surgery for the Carse gets approval

Town planners have approved an application to site a new temporary doctors’surgery north east of Errol.

It means patients will soon be able to see their doctors at a prefabricated building near West Leys Farm Cottage instead of having to travel all the way to St Madoes to do so, as has been the case since the old Errol surgery shut earlier this year.

A report recommending the Carse Medical Practice/Morris Leslie application be approved acknowledged the site chosen for the development off the B958, for which a new access road and car park will have to be constructed,“is clearly not ideal in planning sustainability terms given that it sits remote from the settlement of Errol”.

However it went on:“Whilst I remain of the view that it would be preferable for a temporary practice to be located within the settlement boundary of Errol ... I am satisfied that the information submitted with the application is sufficient to justify this alternative temporary site given the circumstances.

“It is considered important to ensure continued uninterrupted provision of a medical practice in the Carse of Gowrie and approval of this application will allow for this.

“Ultimately the proposal for a facility of this nature outside the settlement boundary is considered contrary to the Local Development Plan. [However], the justification provided is considered sufficient to merit a departure in the circumstances to allow for a temporary consent only to be consented.”

Carse of Gowrie councillor Angus Forbes commented: “This is a turning point in a long and complex saga. Having just spoken to Morris Leslie, they are working to an opening date of towards the end of the year.

“There are still issues like building warrants and the road speed to be sorted out, but hopefully they will happen quickly.”

Councillor Alasdair Bailey added: “This is only a step along the way towards a permanent fit-for-purpose healthcare facility for the Carse.

“I will continue to push for all options to be explored for the location of the permanent build.”