Wedding venue plan gets the green light
A farm steading in Perthshire has been approved as a wedding venue despite worries about traffic management.
The concerns of some Kirkmichael residents were put to councillors as they made their decision.
The planning application for the change of use of Tullochcurran Farm’s stone-built steading was put before Perth and Kinross Council’s planning and development management committee on Tuesday, June 1.
Blairgowrie and Glens Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers made a deputation on behalf of locals opposed to the change of use.
She expressed “significant concern” about the impact on neighbours who live along from the site due to it being situated at the end of a very narrow lane and people using the lane to access the play area, holiday lets and popular Cateran Trail.
Cllr Shiers was sceptical passing places could be added here and said she was not confident due consideration was given to extra traffic for guests, catering, beauticians, etc.
Fellow Blairgowrie and Glens Conservative councillor Bob Brawn queried how bad parking was.
Cllr Shiers said: “Kirkmichael is served quite poorly by public transport. I’ve noticed parking get tighter in the 15 years I’ve served as a local councillor.”
Tony Jevon lives on the lane and together with his wife has a holiday let there too. He made a deputation on behalf of 11 other households “detrimentally affected” with the “unsuitability of the private lane”.
Mr Jevon described the lane as “an ungraded potholed track” with no way to limit cars to the 20 parking spaces proposed at the venue.
The proposal is for Tullochcurran Farm to accommodate up to 70 guests. He voiced residents’ concerns about noise and potential anti-social behaviour from wedding guests.
He said holidaymakers were drawn to Kirkmichael because of its tranquil nature.
Applicant Nikki Miskelly told the committee: “Our vision is to create a familyrun business with a focus on managing and co-ordinating weddings.”
She told councillors how she and husband Paul co-ordinated their own wedding at the farm steading in 2019.
She said: “We had 70 guests at the barn and it was a trial as well to see if we could look into seeking planning permission.
“There were absolutely no complaints or issues raised at that point with any of the neighbours.”
She said it could help support local businesses and the local community, and create new jobs.
In response to concerns about noise, she said there would be no music in the marquee area and it would be contained within the steading and that living in the farmhouse would ensure “noise levels are carefully monitored and that the wedding party agree to their contract of service agreement”.
Mr and Mrs Miskelly proposed a minibus service with two 16-seater minibuses to minimise guests travelling up and down the lane.
Planning officer Anne Condliffe told the committee they were happy with the proposal of the minibus and would be happy for cars to park at the farm.
PKC’s project engineer Lachlan McLean said there were already larger vehicles such as tractors and a PKC bin lorry - using the lane.
After over an hour’s discussion, Cllr Brawn moved for refusal expressing concern about traffic management and residential amenity.
SNP Kinross-shire councillor Richard Watters seconded.
Conservative Almond and Earn councillor David Illingworth moved for approval.
He said he lived on a “very similar” lane with a village hall opposite which “occasionally holds noisy events” and with a play park at the top of the lane.
He said PKC had a duty to support businesses, particularly in rural areas.
Strathallan SNP councillor Tom Gray seconded saying he saw “no reason to prevent it”.
Approval was granted by eight votes to three.