Flood worry over Perth West plans

A Perth and Kinross councillor has suggested flooding concerns could jeopardise the future of the massive Perth West development.

A planning application (in principle) was submitted to Perth and Kinross Council in May for 1500 homes as well as shops, industrial units, hotels and an innovation highway.

But as a smaller development downstream narrowly avoided being rejected because of“grave concerns”over flooding, Cllr Tom Gray suggested there could be a“serious problem”ahead as the Perth West application progresses.

A development of 49 homes by Bellway in Perth’s Cherrybank area was only just approved by the convener’s casting vote at last Tuesday’s planning development and management committee (December 15).

Half of the committee voted for a deferral over concerns about “significant flooding” downstream of the development - within the Craigie Burn and

Scouring Burn catchment.

SNP Strathallan councillor Tom Gray said: “If flooding is an issue on this small site (Cherrybank vicinity) then we have one serious problem to consider when the development of Perth West goes ahead simply because the trajectory of water in this valley is past this very site.”

He stressed: “And we are talking about a very large area proposed to be developed in the relatively near future.

“So we need to do some very serious thinking about the trajectory and movement of water in the future down this valley.”

Lib Dem Perth City South councillor Willie Wilson - who put forward the amendment to defer on the Cherrybank development - said he agreed entirely with Cllr Gray.

Cllr Wilson added: “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”