Anger at garage plan
Councillors have voiced concerns they are powerless to prevent unlawful demolitions in the future following the “disgraceful”trashing of a manse building in Kinross.
Kirklands Development Group (KDG) completely destroyed the Kirklands Garage, located in a conservation area, with a JCB in June without the proper consent.
The group was only granted permission to demolish some sections, leaving two exterior walls, so new homes could be built on the site.
Kinross-shire Civic Trust (KCT) had urged Perth and Kinross Council earlier this month not to let the developer off the hook.
KDG representatives faced intense scrutiny at the planning and development management meeting on Tuesday, September 24, with councillors“angry”at the use of a large plant to destroy the building, while also voicing concern over the council’s lack of power to stop similar unauthorised demolitions in future.
CouncillorWillieWilson said:“This is one of the most disgraceful moments of unauthorised demolitions in a conservation area I have heard of at the council over the last 40 years.”
However, planning and development committee convener Roz McCall said the rubble-strewn site would need to remain as it is stood if further planning consent for the flats was not granted.
She concluded:“I don’t like the way this process is.
“It is a situation that I don’t accept. But there seems to be no adequate way to insure that these things don’t happen again.
“We have contractors all over Perth and Kinross who do everything by the book and we appreciate that.
“It’s a terrible situation and we shouldn’t be here.”
Councillors also mooted the possibility of legal action against developers in future, including KDG, however Ms McCall downplayed this, saying it would require spending taxpayers money on a retrospective case, leading to likely minimal penalties for developers.
The developer representatives admitted they regret the building being fully demolished, but claimed the manse facade became unstable as they tried to remove parts of the roof.
The retrospective planning bid to demolish the building, build two houses and four flats, and rebuild the facade of the manse, was passed by six votes to three.