Loading ...Is this democracy?
The approval by Perth and Kinross Council’s Development Control Committee, by a vote of eight to four, for the application to build 22 flats on the curling rink site in Pitlochry must be a low point for democracy in the area. As one of the 146 objectors, I attended and listened to the Committee’s deliberations. On several preceding applications, discussions had been detailed, thoughtful and often probing – even to the extent of asking one farmer, who was applying to convert a listed steading to housing, for evidence that dairy farming didn’t make money! Hearing these, and knowing that similar levels of investigation would expose major problems with the shoddy curling rink flats proposal, I was quite hopeful.
As soon as they could possibly get it over with, a vote was taken which had all the hallmarks of being a pre-arranged vote on Party lines – SNP and Lib Dems voting for it. I await the result of Freedom of Information requests with interest, to discover the background to this extra-ordinary performance. Uplands Development have already moved on to their next Applications in Pitlochry - knocking down two buildings in the town centre conservation area - previously the Bank House and the Bakers Oven - and putting up a hotel, flats and retail units. However, perhaps the vote in the Council Committee was totally kosher, and perhaps the next part of Uplands Developments masterplan for Pitlochry will not go through on the nod.
Pitlochry’s unique town centre; the Birks of Aberfeldy; Dall, Rannoch; Griffin and Calliachar wind developments; the 400kV Beauly-Denny electricity transmission line passing down east of Schiehallion and on through Glen Quaich. A roll-call of stunning places under threat. They may not all mean something to you but, for most residents of Highland Perthshire, almost certainly some of them will. Those of us who care must act now. Thousands of people have made representation against these planning proposals. Those applications already decided suggest that it is unlikely that any of those people will be heard. For each development, we’re given spurious reasons why those of us raising voices in protest are wrong-headed, selfish, NIMBYs and standing in the way of progress and “sustainable economic growth.” I don’t mind being called a NIMBY – if I don’t care about my own backyard, the chances of me caring for someone else’s is remote. Don’t wait until there’s an Application to destroy a part of Highland Perthshire that you love. If you’ve never paid any attention to planning before, assuming that you’ll get fair warning if something’s coming your way, beware.
A new planning system is currently being rolled out. The TAYplan is an over-arching plan for Tayside, Angus, North Fife and Perth and Kinross that will detail what type of development is suitable for each and every area within it. If your area is zoned for something you think will be detrimental to the area, it will be too late to object when the Application comes forward. You need to get involved in the consultation process as the plan is written. If enough of us get involved, who knows – we might just be listened to.
Helen McDade
March 19th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
A developer’s dream, or a town’s nightmare
Town centre Pitlochry - Send them homewards to think again
Watching a couple of old antique dealers, on t.v, as they drove their open top old Mercedes through various towns in the Lake District, I thought, here are communities who love their old towns. Not once in the streets or lanes was there a sign of inappropriate development.
Objections are in and we now await with interest to see if we have a monumental disaster on our hands, or if we have sent the developer “ homewards to think again ,” not far, just to Aviemore, to a town which lost any semblance of being a special place many years ago.
The town centre project includes a 52 room only accommodation unit, to be built over a grocery store. Surely a new low in mean thinking. This is laughingly described as a hotel yet is without facilities: no restaurants, no bars, not even a lounge for a wet July day. This so called hotel’s marketing strategy will be to advertise cheap rooms which do exist, but that will not be in Pitlochry, but in some godforsaken place that no one wants to go to, until Pitlochry becomes that godforsaken place because of it. Can you imagine how its modern, cheap, façade will fit in with existing Victorian frontages. As J.Joyce, so aptly put it “Piled buldung on suprabuildung on the banks of the livers for the so and so’s”
The project is a developer’s dream and a town’s nightmare, let’s see if our elected representatives, and our well paid planners, have the guts to send them homewards to think again, and instead produce their own plan that will protect our town and give us the town centre that both Scotland and Pitlochry deserves.
A concerned blow in
March 13th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
The Gossip’s Mouth is the Devils Mailbag.
Re-Rab and Jamsie
I just thought I would pop into the Bickering Blog, to say how accurate Rab and Jamsie were on their point of view. And just maybe, if everyone stopped squabbling amongst each other and stuck together as a town and not “Them and Us”, then maybe just maybe, we could look into the future and not the Victorian Drains of Pitlochry.
Taking a quote “If you don’t use it, then lose it”, well maybe you should start practicing what you preach.
If there is such a thing as “U and I” in community then maybe there won’t be any more empty shops, as the money being spent in community will keep the shops open.
The heart and soul is being ripped out of the community and if the squabbling and bickering does not stop, the town of Pitlochry will disappear before your very eyes.
So….lets start putting the “U and I” back into the community and start behaving like one.
If you have any comments to be made, then leave them on this blog or email me at davynelson@ymail.com. Don’t be like the daftie who came in shooting their mouth off to me in my shop this morning.
Yours
Davy Nelson
March 12th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Hullo rere, I wis just looking at the proposal fur a room-only place to rattle aboot in Pitlochry ye kin, get a bit fed up wi Guvvan in winter. So Jamsie and mysel an a cuppla mates are gonna support this new rooming place bilt over a supermarket. Great eh, beer an a loaf a bread an aa handy. The social gie’s us free rail travel, an we can say we are looking fur a job. The architect is, eh,a clever basard eh. Imagine thinking that up, rooms over a supermarket. Credit where uts due, must be a first, but i did hear that they had one in a foreign place, somewhere in Africa,or Arabia, issat the same? but there was nae swalley, religion an that.
See the cost, only £14 a nite an four to the room. Thas, thas, thas only four quid somethin a man.ha, ha. Get that on the social nae borrer.ha, ha. Could stay a week in winter, heat an all that.I can’t bring Mary Doll as she thinks i’m still off the swalley, Even if yus locals are scart of head bangers like us nae need, with a supermarket right below the room I can nip doon and get the swalley withoot onybody knowing we wur here. will see, kin.
Jamsie an myself know how to behave, but our orrer two mates are a couple of right head bangers, but i hear there are no polis in Pitlochry so na worries.See all youse stuck up wans tryin to keep the rif raf oot, when you meet us, maybe a bit messy, blood an all that, you will see what we really are like. lovable. A bit of irony there,ha, ha, but eventually….you’ll see
rab
March 11th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
I rarely agree with you Ken Lyall, but by God I admire your direct style. No political weasely never say what you really think just toe-the-party-line don’t frighten the voters don’t give offence try and please all the people all the time from you. It’s refreshing from a politician.
But you’re way out of order on the Curling Rink decision. Jim Brown spoke to the Committee - his life is badly screwed because his listed property is going to be 10m from the flats. He spoke with passion and logic. What do you want - a PR company? Helen McDade was denied her speaking slot altogether - as you know.
No-one, including you, spoke a word of sense in favour of the Application for the flats. You personally used your time fiddling about debating the merits of an existing footpath across the site, and that gave you the excuse to abstain. Still at least you had the guts to avoid handing the SNP a full house.
As an afterthought this ’silent majority’ concept that you, and also Kate Howie, employ to deny what communities really believe is SINISTER. It allows you to disregard what’s in front of your eyes - 146 Objections was an extraordinary amount & should be acknowledged as such. Even the Perth Incinerator didn’t raise that level of opposition percentage-wise.
March 11th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
but however travelodge will go some way to make pitlochry a more year round destination with its national marketing clout.
March 11th, 2010 at 1:35 am
The Chairperson of Pitlochry & Moulin Community Council, Mrs Scott, said on Radio Heartland a few weeks ago and I quote word for word what she said , “A hotel would advertise and promote Pitlochry to a wider area and to a greater number of clientele - family clientele in particular, who want to perhaps stay over for one night or so in the area. We really do need, and could sustain a family unit type. We know many of these chain types of hotels have very good marketing and it puts you right on the map.”
Does she as a guest house proprietor over many years in Pitlochry herself not welcome children? Is she so ill informed re. the Hotels and Guest Houses in Pitlochry in that most establishments are delighted to welcome families and have family rooms or family en suites to cater for their needs? Is she not aware of the number of young families in the town during the holiday season? Not all are visiting for the day nor are they all staying at caravan parks. A vast number stay and are warmly welcomed to the Hotels and Guest Houses in the town.
Does she not apprecicate Pitlochry doesn’t need a Premier Lodge or similar to put us right on the map? Pitlochry has “been on the map” for tourists from home and abroad for decades since Victorian times! This town is a “premier inland resort” acknowledged by and advertised by Visit Scotland as such. Hotels, Guest Houses, The Festival Theatre, Blair Castle, Visit Scotland, The Pitlochry Partnership etc. etc. spend vast amounts yearly promoting Pitlochry on the internet. Do we really need, as Mrs Scott stated on “Heartland”, Premier Lodge to make Pitlochry successful? I think not! PITLOCHRY IS ON THE MAP AS FAR AS THE WORLD IS CONCERNED AND IS SUCCESSFUL!
Many good and true people in Pitlochry spent vast amounts of time and energy fighting the horrendous proposal for the Curling Rink site and lost. They fought - not for any personal gain - but for what they believed was right for Pitlochry - a lovely Victorian town. It was concieved that these people were all business people - all running hospitalty businesses. Some are, but most are residents, some have chosen to retire here and very, very many were “old” Pitlochry - people who have lived here all of their lives and a few contributers were people who have come to live here recently with their young families to hopefully enjoy family life in The Highlands in Scotland and all that it has or had to offer. RAID was not a militant group. It was a group of people who just cared passionately for this town. RAID did not solicit for people to be part of the group - they asked to be part of the group. RAID fought for decent housing for people to live in - not boxes. Sadly, the group were constantly dismissed by the Community Council at every turn with their views.
And then - surprise, surprise, the Planning Councillor, Mr Pearson, asked for help from those same people to fight the Town Centre Development although away back in the summer last year he was saying to one and all that the development proposed by “Uplands” would bring Pitlochry into the 2000’s. Why the change of heart and direction now? We would all love to know.
The Town Centre, I address, will be a far bigger blight on Pitlochry’s landscape if the plans proposed by the developers go ahead than the Curling Rink proposal approved by P&KC.
I end by saying, there is something very fundamentaly rotten in Pitlochry. We have greedy landlords who own properties in the town charging hugely exorbitant rents prohibiting interesting little shops coming into the town. The rents charged are similar to say, the West Ends in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. These landlords should be named and shamed! The shops in Pitlochry rely on seasonal trade - the West Ends of Glasgow and Edinburgh don’t! Why are there are such nice little interesting shops in Dunkeld down the A9 - perhaps these little boutiques are owner occupied or the landlords aren’t so greedy.
I absolutely despair of what might evolve in Pitlochry. It looks dreadful at the moment with all the many empty shops but most importantly, I absolutely despair at the complacancy of some of the residents. It’s their/our town. So many should be pro-active in fighting for Pitlochy’s SURVIVAL. I hope and pray that these people will come out of the woodwork.
March 10th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Oh dearie me…. Ken Lyall “kind of likes me”. Not sure whether to laugh or cry or feel scared or what!
In the interests of lightening the tone of all this, including for Ken, I will just have a little chuckle and leave it at that!!
On your other point Ken, it would actually be completely illogical for some-one my age to think of becoming a councillor as you seem to be suggesting, requiring as it would a cut in pay and probably more troubles than you could shake a stick at. I am quite happy with my ACC secretary role thank you.
Becoming a councillor in your early thirties or forties nowadays would take some dedication….so while we may disagree on some things Ken, I will give you that one.
Anyway, the point of this thread was for Pitlochry people to let fly a bit regarding the planning system……
VC
March 10th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Let’s Think Out of The Box - Let’s Go Our Own Way.
I do not want to add to Ken Lyall’s woes - he is too good at doing that himself. What I would like to raise is the wider issue that is emerging - the poor governance of this area by Perth and Kinross Council.
For all the reasons outlined over and over on this blog, our local authority is failing Highland Perthshire. Every few years we vote in people who then have to do battle with a system that is organically flawed, and if they fail it should come as no surprise.
The party political system is failing us and the local government bureaucrats are failing us. This is because their eyes are on Perth and its problems - not on rural Perthshire’s problems.
Many older residents will remember with affection when we were governed by three local councils with town halls in Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Aberfeldy. In the interests of so-called efficiencies these were wiped out in 1975.
I am not arguing for their return but we should recognize that in the last 35 years, Highland Perthshire has developed as a cohesive entity, with closer collaboration between communities with like interests.
Given there is so much local dissatisfaction with P&K (I could add to the list their bulldozing approach to closing roads for the Etape cycle race), I suggest it is time for us to think laterally and draw up plans for independence.
Let’s not divert our energies at lambasting P&K but on replacing it. Let’s fight to create a council for Highland Perthshire that truly represents local interests and helps the area to prosper.
This is not pie in the sky. It is the sort of local initiative all the major political parties say they want to encourage, but never do anything about.
In other words, let’s form a Highland Perthshire Party to fight for local independence. Let’s demand the right to have our own Highland Perthshire local authority which would be lean on bureaucracy and rich on local community involvement.
This is the right time to do it. If we act now we could be a real force at the next local elections. I can almost hear the established party apparatchiks quaking in their boots.
March 10th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Victor,
just shows how little you know!!
I do not care for the ‘men in grey kilts’ as you put it, that is why am where i am.
Looking forwatrd to the Victor election campaign, hmm well what is it really!
May vote for you if you can get your act together and not just spout rubbish and vague statements.
I do kind of like you, but get a grip on the community and try to reperesnt them, not in a poll but in reality.
Best wishes
Ken Lyall
March 10th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
victor,
i care!
March 10th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Ken,
I thought you were a suspended SNP member, NOT a suspended councillor….in which case, why are you continuing to dig your hole deeper on here? I would have thought that the men in grey kilts would rather you kept a lower profile……
I also thought that politicians usually abstain on votes for principled or wider strategic reasons…not because they couldn’t make their minds up!
Good of you to come back on to entertain us, though,……appreciate it.
VC
March 10th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Apathy could mean death to Pitlochry
When most tourist towns are trading up, to encourage a more discerning visitor, why are we being forced to do the opposite.
I am amazed at how little some local people know of the proposed development in the town centre.
This is a prime site worthy of development in keeping with Pitlochry’s unique position as a prime tourist driven town. It calls for very careful planning so that the integrity of the town is not harmed.
What is proposed is little short of madness.
Simply put, a bed only block of rooms, no restaurants, no lounges, no conference facilities, just a tiny reception area, cheaply built, cheaply furnished will be built on top of a small supermarket right in the town centre. This upper building, which is laughingly referred to as a hotel, and theoretically could cater for 30,000 visitors will diminish our towns image. This structure will not even qualify for hotel status as defined by the tourist board, yet it is being considered by the town planners. Why, even though it is certain that those rooms can only be filled at a cost to those who provide a proper service to visitors, is it still even being considered? The planners most assuredly will realise how bad it is, so who is pushing it forward? Even worse a block of flats with 8 retail units will back onto the Church, destroying an aspect that could have become the focal point of a new town square with riverside walks.
Simply put the development, as it is, will offer nothing to the town and has the potential of scaring the very people we need away. A small group of dedicated townspeople, are aware of the danger, and are working hard to save the town. Please take an interest and help maintain our town as a must visit venue for visitors to Scotland.
March 10th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Rory,
hundreds!! no 146, get your facts right!
You may have self interest here, I dont.
March 10th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Ken,
Thank you for your email I have just received.
You say… “Can’t say I think much of your message on the comment blog, particularly as you have not even bothered to speak to me about the curling rink proposal.
Easy to criticise ehh!!”
Hundreds of people ‘bothered’ to speak to you and the other councillors and yet you still saw fit to abstain.
You say…”I abstained for my reasons; if you want to know them give me a phone, otherwise maybe you should keep your comments to yourself!”
Your reasons should be public knowledge, I believe it’s a public office you hold? I do want to know them, I asked you in the forum this morning, and no, I will not keep my comments to myself.
Rory Macdonald
March 10th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Helen,
I think the question is, does 146 objections override the popolation of 2546? Quite agree that the ’silent majority’ may have different views, but obviously not enough to write in to the council.
I abstained as I wanted the existing gate and route kept open into Kennedy Place. If I had got that I would have voted for! In todays age I really do not see how children cannot be brought up to walk down a pavement or road and cross safely over to a park at the age of 7 or 8, my daughters do! Kennedy Place is literally 400 yards away, and the recreation ground not that much more. Pitlochry is not exactly as busy as a city, lets get some perspective here! no this is a red herring and not helpful.
The deputations at the council committee did them no favours and may well have acted against their wishes due to their comments. I have seen this so many times before.
Anyhow enough said, as a suspended councillor I can now say what I like and this is my true view!
March 10th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Rory,
I abstained for the reason that I really could not make my mind up as to what the community really wanted.
I asked for a path/pedestrian entrance that is there now, with a gate, be kept to let the people leave the scheme nearer to a pavement in the Kennedy Place area and this was rejected.
As for me standing again, no chance! why dont you if you feel so strongly and see what decisions you make, or will you just hide like most people who have a grievance!
March 10th, 2010 at 11:26 am
I read with interest the article from Helen McDade and the response from Victor Clements and I am in complete agreement with both. I was born and brought up in Pitlochry, went to school in Pitlochry and Breadalbane, I am now a resident of Aberfeldy and have a business in both towns. I have followed the debates regarding the Curling Rink, Pitlochry Town Centre, Sainsburys, Windfarm, Powerline etc and can understand the frustration of the objectors that they are ignored by the Development Committee and also, often the Community Council.
I recently attended a Pitlochry Community Council meeting which amongst other things had a presentation from Sainsburys PR Dept.
This is one of the most important decisions a Community Council will ever have to make as it will shape the town of Pitlochry and the whole of Highland Perthshire for generations to come.
I was dismayed to hear that the only questions the Council were asking were about the size, shape, colour and landscaping of the proposed new building and also the flood defenses that were being proposed. The key questions, in my opinion, that were never asked:
Do we need another large supermarket in Pitlochry?(given that Tesco is rumoured to be opening in the town centre development)
What impact will this have on the independant traders in the town?
Have the Community Council looked at other towns throughout Scotland to see the devastating effect that an out of town supermarket has on the (already struggling) high street?
I raised a few of these points, as best I could, and was met with PR jargon from the guests and nothing from the Community Council. With the exception of Mike Cheesewright who thanked me for saying what I did, the council seem to have ignored the bigger picture of what is happening to our communities with such developments.
It was left to Mrs Scott, Chairperson, to trivialise the whole discussion by saying “We will have to think about where the ’shows’ can be located in future years”(the travelling shows traditionally use that field for two days per year!!)
It is little wonder that apathy reigns in Highland Perthshire when opinions are so often disregarded. The silent majority that the council so often refers to and relies on may actually be against many of the proposals that they are trying to force through they just know that there is little point in coming to the meetings.
With reference to the Curling Rink site, I would like to know why any Councillor ‘abstains’ on such a vote? Do they think it is a split decision right down the middle of the community? or are they voted in to voice the opinion of the people they represent? Or, indeed, do they have re-election in mind and are happy to sit on the fence?
Rory Macdonald
March 9th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Helen McDade’s Comment says it all and more as does Victor Clement’s. We, in Pitlochry could do with someone like Mr Clements on OUR Community Council and should Helen McDade ever stand for office as a Councillor or MSP - she has my vote and I’m sure that of many others in Pitlochry!
March 8th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Helen,
I am quite sure that lessons will be learned/ are being learned from these contentious developments. Instead of “raging against the system” as some might advocate, better to stand back and take stock of what you are dealing with, try to understand it, and then see how the worst excesses can be moderated.
Here in the Peoples’ Republic of Aberfeldy, we had a notable success on 24th February, persuading our Common Good Fund councillors to refuse a lease for the hydro scheme in the Birks, despite this being seemingly a foregone conclusion up to that point. This may well still happen, but if it does, it will now only be done with our consent, and that is fundamentally important.
We took some time to understand fully the advice that had been given to the planning committee,found it hopelessly flawed, and tore it apart. We should have done this prior to the planning process, but thankfully we got this second chance.
I am also quite convinced that petitions and letters of objection do not really work, as officials can point to the “silent majority” argument. The way around this is to arrange polls, not petitions, in which everyone has an equal chance to participate and where background information is readily available. No mimimum turnout is required for a valid poll…therefore, if run by a Community Council, for example, the onus is then on the council or developer to show that some other view exists.They cannot disregard your views without giving a valid reason for doing so. Your view then becomes the default position.
Finally, having a Common Good Fund to influence helped us bring about a good result. Others do not have these, but there are now various community trusts, CIC companies and the like in Highland Perthshire, too many almost certainly, and not really providing a key strategic function beyond their immediate, often limited remits. We need to find a way of having a democratically accountable body sitting between us and PKC, big enough to be taken seriously but not so big as they get above themselves, with the capacity to provide effective administrative support in these difficult situations.Such an organization must fit in to the hierachy of local community functions, and other groups must know how to access it and contribute to it’s Agenda.
I am quite sure that some joined up thinking is required here, bridging both sides of the A9. If we can acheive that, then we would be in a better position to get the developments that we want, and not the bampot ones that others would like to tell us that we want.
We are starting to think about these things in Aberfeldy, for a variety of reasons. The above is a personal view only. No doubt others will have similiar thoughts, and I look forward to seeing how this thread develops.
Victor Clements
Secretary, Aberfeldy Community Council