A councillor has voiced concern over a company’s move to challenge a decision to deny it a certificate of lawfulness to occupy a site in the Carse of Gowrie.
Councillor Alasdair Bailey fears an appeal raised by door supplier Alfa Doors over Perth and Kinross Council’s refusal to grant the business a certificate to use the site at Bridgend of Carse near Grange could see villagers’ concerns about the operation ignored.
Earlier this week the PA reported the council had advised the company to submit a formal planning application to continue using the site as a workshop after neighbours raised concerns the business was breaching planning rules.
Bosses applied for a certificate of lawfulness to keep using the site instead arguing the operation was exempt from enforcement action as they say the site has been used for commercial purposes for well over 10 years.
The council has now refused to grant the company a certificate on two occasions prompting it to ask the Scottish Government to overrule the most recent refusal.
Councillor Bailey fears the move could deny locals a say on whether the business should be allowed to continue to operate as is or forced to make changes to address concerns over vehicle movements, road safety and hours of operation.
He told the PA: “I’m concerned to see that the application for lawful use, which has twice been declined by the council, has now been appealed to the Scottish Government.
“Residents tell me that this current usage is most definitely new within the past two years and it’s definitely a lot of traffic for a site accessed along an unmade gravel-topped road.
“Local residents are clear that they want to be able to have their say on the development including road safety at the turning onto the public road, hours of operation and the number of HGV movements in and out.
“If the current appeal is successful then none of that will be taken into account and the operator will be handed carte blanche to continue the current activity at the site without improving the road and at all hours of the day.
“That would be a most disappointing outcome.”
The appeal is being considered by the government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) which is currently awaiting a response from PKC according to its website.
The website also says a government reporter assigned to the case is expecting to have made a decision by the end of October.
Sandy Farmer, director of Alfa Doors, commented: “Alfa Doors relocated to the Grange in January 2021 to allow for expansion and to future proof their thriving door business.
“The site to which Alfa Doors moved is part of the old wartime airfield and is an expanse of concrete and tar along with some commercial buildings.
“As this is an ongoing appeal process, we feel we cannot comment further, but wish to be clear we will continue to cooperate with PKC planning department as we have done throughout to ensure the sustainability of the business and the mutual benefit of the company, the local community and the council.”
