Farm house plan hitch
Event putspark infocus Plannerswantbidturneddown
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is celebrating National Parks Week, which runs until Sunday.
Spokesperson Laura Dennett said: “Whether you are looking for a peaceful, family-friendly bike ride through stunning forests or a mountain biking trail, cycling is a fantastic way to explore the park.
“The national park is also a walker’s paradise and you can choose from our short to moderate walking routes or discover one of Scotland’s six long-distance routes.
“You can also go camping and experience the park with a night under the stars or pitch up in one of our many campsites.
“For a slightly wilder experience you can book a permit and stay by a lochshore or tucked away in the trees at Three Lochs Forest Drive.”
She said walkers can also enjoy many smaller hills with spectacular views, including Inchcailloch summit, Beinn Dubh, Ben A’an, Gouk Hill, Callander Crags and Creag an Truic.
There are also weekly Walk in the Park walks in Aberfoyle, Callander, Killin and Balloch.
For ore information see www. lochlomond-trossachs.org.
A couple’s efforts to build a farmhouse in the Carron Valley failed to find favour with planning officials.
Alasdair and Maureen MacGregor applied to Stirling Council for a twostorey house near Rosehall, saying it is needed to oversee an agricultural business.
But in a report to the council’s planning panel next Tuesday officials are recommending refusal of the bid, saying it cannot be justified.
Stirling West councillor Christine Simpson called the application in for consideration by the panel on the basis of the potential visual impact the house would have on the countryside.
Carron Valley Community Council objected to the application over concerns about the house’s dominant position, lack of agricultural justification and alleged unauthorised use of the site. It called for a hearing before any decision is made.
Four letters were also submitted, highlighting concerns over unauthorised building and field access, detraction from the landscape and access on a potentially dangerous, largely blind bend.
The couple say there is enough work carried out on the farm to justify the proposal and a house would allow them to create a more stable infrastructure to expand the business.
Cattle are currently kept off-site for security reasons, they say, the site of the proposed house is not considered prime agricultural land and current farming there requires at least one person working full-time.
Agricultural consultants acting on behalf of Stirling Council say further clarification is needed about several aspects of the application, including a detailed plan and calculation of how the existing agricultural building would be used to accommodate intended livestock numbers and allow for storage of grain and straw.
They also want financial costings, showing that the proposed store cattle production business would generate enough income to provide a living for the applicant in the proposed house. The applicants’ calculation of standard hours work “appears to be flawed and not accurate” they said.
The report adds: “Whilst it may be preferable for the applicants to live on site to operate their cattle business, it is not essential. The labour units calculation does not demonstrate the need for a full-time person working the business and the financial viability has not been demonstrated.”
Roads officials have no objection to the plan subject to conditions on visibility, access, waste pick-up and parking provision.
Whilst it may be preferable for them to live on site, it is not essential