Must protect rural peace

Sir, – I am a member of the north-east Fife planning committee that turned down the application to develop Carphin House into a bespoke wedding venue.

Councillors were unanimous in refusing the application because of the detrimental impact on the local farm business, restricted and disputed access and the impact of noise generated by full-on partying.

Yet four months on, that is exactly what Luthrie residents are suffering.

The owners have resolved to use a loophole in planning legislation that could allow weddings 28 times a year.

The potential impact on the community, as demonstrated by the event on August 4 and subsequently reported (“Wedding venue owners vow to carry on despite complaints about noise”, Courier, August 15) , is awful.

Cattle stampeding, residents ridden off the narrow road, huge tailbacks and, worst of all, noise levels into the small hours that disturb sleep and distress residents.

What has it come to when a small, tranquil, rural village can have its amenity and quality of life destroyed, even when councillors have stuck up for the community and refused planning permission?

If the law allows that, then the law needs to change and I sincerely hope the Scottish Government pays attention.

We really do need to start protecting our peaceful, rural environment before it vanishes under a welter of noise and disrespect.

As for those thinking about using Carphin House as a place to celebrate their happy day in the future – please reflect that your pleasure will come at the expense of a bullied and harassed community that doesn’t want you there. Financial gain and pleasure, at the expense of others’ distress, shouldn’t have a place in today’s society. Councillor Tony Miklinski. Whitehill Farm, Cupar.