The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
T in the Park expected to go ahead after backing for relocation plans.
Councillors urged to sanction the relocation of Scotland’s biggest music festival to Strathallan Castle site after crucial backing from officials
We are confident the final decision will be positive because we know that our plans are meticulous. FESTIVAL DIRECTOR GEOFF ELLIS
Highly controversial plans to stage Scotland’s biggest music festival in the grounds of Strathallan Castle have won crucial backing from planners.
Despite thousands of complaints and an ongoing row over ospreys, council officials believe T in the Park should be allowed to go ahead this summer at its new Perthshire home.
Perth and Kinross councillors have been urged to approve the relocation when they meet for a final decision on Tuesday May 12.
Planners say the event should only be permitted for the next three years so its impact can be fully assessed and reviewed.
Their recommendation has angered opponents, who believe the five-day festival will cause roads chaos and have a detrimental impact on wildlife.
However, T in the Park promoters DF Concerts said officials had made the right decision, clearing the way for full backing from councillors.
If the plan is passed, more than 85,000 fans and around 7,500 staff will descend on the 1,600-acre site in the middle of July.
Council development quality manager Nick Brian revealed council staff had received 1,626 letters and emails calling for the festival to be stopped, with 793 messages of support.
A petition backing the event, with 1,922 signatures, was also submitted.
Mr Brian’s report lists more than 110 complaints raised by objectors ranging from noise, public nuisance and light pollution to fears for wildlife, woodlands and fish.
Opponents even argued the festival could be a contravention of human rights.
Most recently objectors led by the Strathallan T Action Group have focused their attention on three ospreys that have been spotted at two nests within the estate.
They argued that extensive buffer zones needed to be established around the nests, although T in the Park boss Geoff Ellis, pictured, has insisted the festival and the birds can co-exist.
Mr Brian said: “While we are satisfied that consent can be granted on the site, we acknowledge that certain issues can only be ascertained and reviewed after the event has taken place.”
He added that a detailed osprey management plan needed to be lodged by DF Concerts and protection plans for animals including bats, otters and red squirrels must also be put in place. Fireworks have also been banned. Although not initially the top choice Strathallan was eventually favoured because of its parkland setting, described as a “key consideration”, and direct road access.
The council’s transport planning group said there was “sufficient road capacity” to deal with the 69,000 vehicle movements expected over the festival weekend.
In his report Mr Brian said it was “reasonable to assume” there would be traffic delays and disruption, adding a condition that local access roads should be surveyed and upgraded before and after the event, at DF Concerts’ expense.
He also said “careful consideration” was given to all submissions and the proposed mitigation measures were acceptable.
Festival director Mr Ellis said he was certain the show will go ahead.
“We are confident the final decision will be positive because we know that our plans are meticulous and that they work for Strathallan,” he said.
“We look forward to welcoming the best festival audience in the world to one of the most beautiful locations in the world.”
A DF Concerts spokeswoman said: “The recommendation to approve T in the Park’s move to Strathallan is excellent news. The application is now in the hands of Perth and Kinross Council.
“We’re confident the committee will recognise that we can meet any conditions and ensure all measures are in place to secure the long-term protection of the estate, as well as a positive future for T in the Park at Strathallan Castle.”