Wildlife concerns rebuffed by council
Perth and Kinross Council has said it is “satisfied” that there are “no planning concerns” around recent work that has been carried out at the site of the Westpark development off the A93 in Blairgowrie.
As reported in last week’s Blairie, angry residents have hit out at the local authority, accusing it of flouting its legal responsibility to protect nature following the destruction of nests and wildlife at the site.
And outraged residents have contacted Police Scotland claiming that PKC is “ignoring its legal obligations by failing to set planning conditions to ensure the developers carry out breeding bird surveys prior to undertaking ground work”.
The Westpark Partnership received planning permission from the council to build two large retail outlets on the site opposite the cemetery on the A93 approach road to Blairgowrie – part of the popular Snow Roads – in January last year.
Plans for a ‘neighbourhood centre’ consisting of a parade of smaller business units were also included in the application.
A drive-through food outlet, family restaurant and hotel are also part of the proposals which form the first part of a wider development that could see hundreds of new houses, a potential new school and a care home phased in over a number of years on the 74-acre site off the town’s Perth Road, stretching from
Ardblair to Newton Castle.
Approval of the wider plans in principle was given by the local authority in 2018.
Responding to the comments, a spokesperson for PKC said in a statement: “Planning permission for this site was approved in principle in December 2018. A full assessment of biodiversity impacts was undertaken at that time.
“The biodiversity implications for the development were again assessed through an Ecological Appraisal.
“This assessment concluded that the site had low habitat diversity and biodiversity.
“Nevertheless, the planning permission included conditions for the protection of wildlife and further information was also attached to alert the developer that the ground may contain nesting birds between March and August.
“The information also highlighted the developer’s legal responsibilities under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
“We are satisfied that there are no planning concerns in respect of this matter.
“If there are concerns that a wildlife offence is taking place, these can be reported to Police Scotland or the RSPB.”