Planners are to look into work at caravan site
Concerns over Station Road activity
Planning officials are looking into ongoing work at St Fillans Caravan Park.
Officers from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority have visited the Station Road site after concerns were raised by locals who suspected ground work was being carried out without the required permission.
Perth and Kinross Council has also pledged to investigate the recent activity at an area which was once home to the village’s railway station and sits within a conservation area.
And the work is currently on the radar of St Fillans Community Council.
Chair Stewart Gavigan said he had been contacted by a number of people in relation to the issue in recent weeks.
Mr Gavigan said the intention behind the work was unclear, although it is believed it is being carried out with a view to constructing holiday lodges.
The issue has been raised with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, which has jurisdiction over St Fillans when it comes to planning applications.
Mr Gavigan said: “The work has been going on there for a number of weeks now, possibly six to eight.
“I don’t know who the contractor is but I’ve been told they’ve said they have some form of consent.
“But the area is part of the former station, which is B- listed, and it looks like they’ve taken away part of the old platform.
“The National Park Authority is aware of it.
“No planning permission has been given.”
Mr Gavigan also said that tree felling nearby and the burning of debris has resulted in an increase in the number of people getting in touch in relation to the work.
He went on to stress: “We’re not against development as such but St Fillans is part of a conservation area and any work that is undertaken must be done after the appropriate permissions and things have been granted.”
A spokesperson for the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority said: “We have been made aware of ground work undertaken at St Fillans Caravan Park and as such have engaged with the landowner and visited the site to gather information.
“This is ongoing. Once we have concluded, the landowner will be advised of planning requirements which may include the submission of an application for planning permission and/or listed building consent. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the situation.
“The tree felling which has been undertaken is on land outwith the St Fillans Conservation Area but, again, the landowner has been contacted.”
A Perth and Kinross Council representative said: “We do not have any recent or current building warrants on file relating to St Fillans Caravan Park.
We’re not against development as such but St Fillans is part of a conservation area Stewart Gavigan, St Fillans CC
“Planning decisions on the site would be a matter for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park as it is the planning authority.
“An officer from our building standards team will be visiting the site this week to assess the situation and the council will take any action as appropriate thereafter.”