A planning application for 76 additional caravans at an existing site in Birnam has caused alarm for a Perthshire resident who believes the access to the A9 is already an accident blackspot.
Erigmore Leisure Park was acquired by Verdant Leisure Ltd in 2020.
Already in place are 151 mobile cabins and the company wishes to boost this number to 227 by adding the new 4.8 hectares of land to the site located to the north of Woodville, off Perth Road in the village of Birnam.
The recent planning application outlines how an agricultural field would become developed as an extension to the existing leisure park.
The plans show the formation of internal access, parking, hardstanding and landscaping works.
The A9 Dual Action Group #DualtheA9 was contacted by a resident who plans to object on the grounds that extra traffic for Birnam would be generated by the 76 additional static caravans and lodges if the site extension was agreed.
They said: “They are wanting to put up 76 mobile holiday homes but the turn off into Birnam/Dunkeld is already an accident black spot with three fatalities last year alone.
“Turning onto the A9 from Birnam is a thirty-minute nightmare.
“If passed, this application will lead to more deaths.”
In the applicant’s planning statement, Verdant Leisure states: “Erigmore Leisure Park contains 157 developed pitches, of which 151 pitches are currently occupied by units which are a mixture of privately owned units and those used for short term lets.
“The applicant seeks permission to change the use of the land to accommodate 76 units which would form and operate as an extension of the established Erigmore Leisure Park.
“These are moveable and placed on a concrete base. The units therefore are classed as caravans.
“The proposed development includes the infrastructure to support the 76 units and is set out in the form of three cul de sacs.
“We are aware that the area which forms the north western corner of the site is defined as ancient woodland.
“We are also aware the site is bisected by overhead power lines, an underground gas pipeline and other utilities.”
The application - 22/02194/FLL - for a change of use of the field to form extension to the existing leisure park is open to comments until February 28.
The PA contacted Verdant Leisure but had not received a reply before going to print.
