It is ironic that in a week where Highland Perthshire has a young woman, Eve Muirhead, leading a serious Olympic challenge in the Ladies Curling, Perth and Kinross Council are considering a planning application to knock down the curling rink in Pitlochry where Eve was able to train.  Instead, Pitlochry is being offered the dubious privilege of yet another block of 22 flats, with no gardens or communal “greenspace”. 

A key question which Councillors should consider is what sporting provision does the Council intend to provide in the Pitlochry area to replace this facility and address the total inadequacy which currently exists?  Young people in Pitlochry seem to be expected to travel between 15 (Aberfeldy) and 25 (Perth) miles to get to sports facilities, e.g. curling and swimming.

The flats planned are of a totally inappropriate design for a small town setting and unsuitable for families - which is the type of accommodation badly needed in the area.

If the Council Development Control Committee give consideration to their Policies on sustainable development and amenity provision, they should turn down this change of use from sports facility to housing.  Then, perhaps, the Council could give consideration to what provision it is going to make in this area – joining with the residents to keep Pitlochry as a place which people want to live in,

Helen McDade