LIFE SAVER
A property developer has revealed a plan which could improve safety at Crieff’s most notorious accident blackspot.
London and Scottish Developments already has planning permission for a development comprising two large retail units on the former Tesco site at Broich Road, which it now owns.
The firm also owns a key plot of land on the corner of Broich Road and King Street, right at the pinch point which makes the road so narrow that buses and lorries cannot safely pass each other.
In November 2015 local mum Lena Tocher suffered life- threatening injuries there when she was pinned to a wall by a bus as she walked along the pavement and has since called for improvements, along with community councillors and elected members.
And Bryan Wilson, development director of London and Scottish Developments, this week revealed his firm has pledged to donate that piece of land to Perth and Kinross Council and to help fund the realignment of the dangerous junction.
He has also committed to improving safety for pupils walking to and from Crieff Primary School by providing a new footpath within the former Tesco site.
Mr Wilson stressed: “There are no strings attached to this offer. We are happy to hand this parcel of land
over to the council tomorrow if it will speed up the realignment of this junction and render it safe.”
Mr Wilson was speaking after a visit to the junction, where work is on- going to demolish the buildings on the north side of the street.
This work does not involve widening the road.
Mr Wilson added: “Any improvements at this spot are more than welcome but the only real and lasting solution is to widen the junction and the land we hold is the key to making that happen.”
When asked to respond to London and Scottish Developments’ proposal, a spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council would only say “no offer has been made to the council” at this stage.
Regarding the former Tesco site, Mr Wilson said his firm would be “delighted” if Aldi agreed to occupy one of the spaces available.
However, the discount supermarket brand is still seeking permission to create a food store and a second, separate retail outlet on land at nearby Duchlage Farm.
This application was previously refused by council officers, as was an application to demolish listed farm buildings for parking spaces, but following an appeal an August meeting of the Local Review Body agreed to grant the firm until November to answer a series of points in relation to road safety, public transport and the listed buildings on the site.
Setting out his firm’s stall, Mr Wilson added: “We would like everyone to know that we are ready to build on the former Tesco site, having secured consent for two buildings, one of which can accommodate a food retailer such as Aldi.
“Our ultimate goal is to deliver a high-quality retail development for Crieff at the earliest possible opportunity.
“We have planning permission for our site and we should be pressing ahead but we can’t make competent investment decisions until the uncertainty over the Duchlage application is resolved.
“A refusal of the appeal at the Duchlage Farm site would remove this uncertainty and allow us to finalise discussions with the major High Street retailers with whom we are speaking at present.
“However, we are frustrated that, having made a sevenfigure investment in the town, the speculative planning application on the site at Duchlage Road remains the sole obstacle to improved food retail choice being delivered for the people of the town.”
When approached by the Herald in relation to Mr Wilson’s comments, a representative for Aldi declined to comment.