The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Masterplan given cautious welcome by community
More than 80 people objected to the original Almond Valley masterplan.
They argued the proposal would ruin the character of the area, and create one massive city expansion rather than several smaller settlements.
However, the head of the watchdog group that had originally opposed the development gave the new plans a cautious welcome.
Kenny Simpson, chairman of the Methven and District Community Council, said: “It’s not as bad as I thought it would be.
“There’s lots of green space and a couple of football pitches, although they are on the land that floods.”
He said: “In theory, it looks OK. Unfortunately the park is across the river and there’s no bridge but that’s all they really could do with the land.
“We asked that the lade is also looked after and maintained, along with the plant life nearby.”
Mr Simpson said: “It’s a long-term project that will take 10 to 15 years, and will only progress as people buy up the houses. We need to make sure there’s infrastructure to go with it, along with doctors, dentists and more services at Perth Royal Infirmary.”
Almond Valley’s chequered history has already involved a public inquiry, a Court of Session hearing and rejection by the council in 2004 and 2011.
The local authority removed the proposal from the local development plan in January 2012, only for the Scottish Government to rule that it should be incorporated into the adopted local plan in October 2013.
However, the scheme was rejected for a third time by the council in May 2016.
It was backed following an appeal in 2017.
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It’s a longterm project that will take 10 to 15 years, and will only progress as people buy up the houses. KENNY SIMPSON