Plans for campsite withdrawn amid environment fears

Proposal comprised camping pitches and holiday homes

Water levels in the Shochie are extremely variable and fields adjoining are prone to flooding. STEWART CARRACHER

Plans for a large campsite in Perthshire have been withdrawn after fears were raised about the impact on salmon spawning in the area.

Landowners had hoped to build 60 camping pitches, more than 30 holiday homes and several buildings at Moneydie, near Luncarty.

Although the official reason for the withdrawal of the application has not been revealed, the plans were subject to strong local opposition, attracting nearly 30 complaints from those in the rural community.

One, from Stewart Carracher, raised concerns about the environmental impact on a nearby waterway.

He said: “Given the importance of the Shochie for salmon spawning and wildlife more generally, I am greatly concerned this development will have severe environmental consequences.

“Nothing in the report gives any comfort that these have even been looked at, never mind addressed.

“To dismiss the Shochie as an irrelevance without a proper evaluation of the potential environmental impact this development may have is to do a disservice to anyone that cares about nature in our community.

“Water levels in the Shochie are extremely variable and fields adjoining are prone to flooding.

“Given the importance of the Shochie I do not believe the council should even be considering an application until there is a proper analysis of the environmental impact on local wildlife and the flood risk to the Shochie more specifically.”

Another objector, Graeme Strang, said visiting dog walkers could pose a risk on agricultural land.

He said: “The fields which run north and south of the Shochie burn are currently used for mixed livestock which includes a breeding flock of ewes and breeding herd of horses.

“It is of great concern that users of the proposed development would utilise these fields recreationally, namely for dog walking.

“This would pose a risk to both the livestock and to the users, as mares with foals at foot will not tolerate any unwelcome disruption and may become very defensive.

“The stallions which occupy these fields may also defend their herd if disturbed by strange dogs.”

The landowners did not respond to a request for comment.