Storage tanks still at garage
Perth and Kinross Council has disputed a man’s claim it ought to have made developers remove underground tanks at the site of a former garage and petrol station in Kinross by now.
A resident living close to where Kirklands Garage used to stand in the town’s High Street says three storage tanks PKC once said “require to be removed” before any redevelopment of the site can start are still in situ.
Kirklands Development Company caused a stir last year when it knocked the garage down with a JCB without proper permission from the local authority.
Bosses then claimed they had been acting on advice received from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The agency later denied it recommended the demolition.
PKC went on to pen reports recommending two applications filed by Kirklands Development Company for retrospective consent to raze the garage then build six houses in its place be approved by councillors.
One of the reports said: “During initial investigative works it was discovered that there were three underground storage tanks that had not been identified and rendered safe. These tanks have subsequently been degassed but require to be removed along with the remaining infrastructure that serviced the fuel pumps.
“Upon the removal of these tanks the developer is required to undertake [a] full site investigation prior to any works commencing on the redevelopment of the site. This is proposed to be conditioned accordingly.”
However, a local source has since told the PA contractors now appear to be making a start on the new houses without taking the tanks out of the ground first.
The man, who did not wish to be named, said: “The developers knocked down the old garage and then said ‘well, we had to because these tanks have to be removed’. Fast forward a year and the tanks are still in place.
“Now the council seems to be saying they can keep the tanks in place and has given them the green light to go ahead with the development. The problem with that is the owners of the new properties are going to move in with underground storage tanks at the end of their drive.
“It’s very frustrating - it’s like the council has let the developers off the hook.”
But PKC now says the removal of the three tanks was not made subject of any conditions attached to Kirklands Development Company’s planning consents.
A spokesperson told the PA: “A ground contamination investigation for the site was required under [one] condition ... of the planning permission. This report was submitted to and approved by the council as planning authority in consultation with the land quality officer.
“The mitigation measures agreed in this report included the removal of four tanks on the site which has now been done. Other tanks are present in the vicinity of the application site which are not subject of the condition nor require removal as part of the approved development.”