Villagers angered by Carse housing plan

Plot identified for 16 homes now has proposal for 74

Plans to build 74 houses on a plot in the Carse of Gowrie originally identified as suitable for 16 homes have been met with anger by local people.

The site at Inchture is currently used as an informally accessible open space and is bounded to the north by the A90 Dundee to Perth dual carriageway with a potato packing plant immediately to the south and Inchture Primary school playing fields to the west.

A common strand to the objections lodged with the council is that it would have an adverse impact on village life, with claims local services would be unable to cope with a development of such magnitude.

“This is the last remaining green area in Inchture,” said Amanda Lavery in her objection.

“It is a beautiful area and should be kept as it is. There are already too many houses in the area with only one shop.

“This application would bring possibly hundreds more people to the village and therefore, their cars too.

“This would only add to the pollution and noise levels, as well as increased traffic. ”

Objector Asta Mikuckiene claimed there is not enough space in the village school to accommodate children from the houses and there are insufficient amenities for the expansion.

“Local doctors are incapable of dealing with an increase of patients in case of expansion,” she said.

Councillor Alasdair Bailey has also objected.

He said: “The local development plan (LDP) allocates this land for 16 houses, this application is for 74 houses, an uplift of 363% over LDP.”

He said the development would increase traffic, did not incorporate tree planting as identified in the LDP and would diminish the attractiveness of the village.

“On approaching the village from the east on the A90 there are inviting views of the redwood lined avenue that once led to the Rossie Priory,” said Mr Bailey.

“The character of the village will be irreversibly altered by a 4m acoustic fence line which will block this view.”

There are already too many houses in the area with only one shop. AMANDA LAVERY