Tree fells challenged
A conservation group has challenged Perth and Kinross Council to produce paperwork to prove a developer has proper permission to clear a site in Kinross.
The Kinross-shire Civic Trust has asked the local authority for copies of several documents it says Juniper Homes should have sent to officials before contractors started sawing down trees at the former Windlestrae Hotel site.
And the group has queried whether consent granted to the company to build 41 new properties at the site covers plans to demolish the hotel.
Members wrote to the council’s head of legal and governance services Lisa Simpson last Friday to ask if Juniper Residential sent staff a construction traffic management scheme before workers started felling trees two weeks ago, and to request a copy of the document.
They have also asked for a copy of any notification the council received last month that the work was about to start and whether the company was granted a building warrant before the felling began, after noting the application was still listed as“pending consideration”at the end of last week.
Lastly, they have asked Ms Simpson if Juniper Residential actually has consent to flatten the former Windlestrae considering the proposed demolition was absent from the description of a planning application passed by councillors earlier this year.
The trust said in a letter to Ms Simpson and seen by the PA:“It is our understanding that any work, including clearance of a site, constitutes commencement of development.
“Could you please confirm whether or not the documents listed above have been submitted to the council and approval given by the council where required?
“If so, on what date were the documents submitted on and on what date was permission given?”
Members also asked Ms Simpson:“Could you please let us know if the developer has submitted a notification to PKC of the onsite start date?
“If so, when was this submitted and what was the date given for commencement of work?”
And their letter went on:“We are aware that [a letter has been circulated] to local residents advising that demolition of the hotel will commence this Monday ... and that traffic management will be in place for the duration.
“We note that‘demolition of hotel’did not form part of the description of [Juniper Residential’s] application ... and have been unable to find any application for demolition of this hotel on the public access system. We would be obliged if you could direct us to where these details can be found.
“Given the urgency of the situation, we require a response by return to the questions raised in this letter and supply of the relevant documents.”
The PA asked PKC to comment on the content of the trust’s letter on Friday but received nothing before going to print yesterday.
A representative from Juniper Residential was unavailable for comment.