Greater than 100 objections to a proposed main growth on the outskirts of Blairgowrie have been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council.
Laird Aggregates is proposing to develop a 30-hectare quarry to extract sand and gravel from land north of the B947 – throughout the street from its present web site, which is able to proceed for use for processing and stockpiling.
An indicative design identifies three excavation areas to be labored on over 5 phases, excavating as much as 75,000 tonnes a yr for as much as 17 years.
Nevertheless, involved locals have claimed proposals for the brand new quarry would see an space the equal measurement of about 70 soccer pitches dug up over that timeframe.
The planning software for the quarry was submitted to the native authority simply earlier than Christmas.
A few of the objections have highlighted issues together with the noise related to the extraction course of, the haulage operations of the quarry, mud and air high quality, site visitors, the environmental and visible affect on the panorama and the potential affect on scheduled monuments of historic curiosity within the space.
And a few of the primarily aged native residents additionally stated that they felt they had been being discriminated in opposition to as they had been unable to entry on-line conferences and consultations.
Blairgowrie and Rattray Group Council is among the many objectors
The statutory organisation’s complete letter to the native authority states: “We not solely help probably the most immediately affected residents of their objections, but in addition the very legitimate issues raised by neighborhood teams and different members of our neighborhood, as this software impacts the city as an entire.
“Initially, we're very involved about quite a few points across the pre-application session that was carried out.
“Covid restrictions meant that the one assembly for residents was on-line after which just for residents inside 300m of the applying web site. This was regardless of PKC issuing a powerful advice in writing to Laird Aggregates to increase the session radius to 750m, which might have given residents of Kinloch and homes round Ardblair a chance to search out out concerning the proposal.
“Moreover, PKC made a written advice that Lairds ought to provide an extra assembly and also needs to notify MSPs. None of those suggestions seem to have been adopted up by Lairds.
“We'd have anticipated a growth of this magnitude, with the affect it should have on the entire city, to have had a way more far-reaching and strong pre-application session course of.”
The neighborhood council additionally identified that the positioning in query has not been designated for minerals growth within the native growth plan, and stated that the dimensions of the venture is of “nice concern” and “disproportionate” for the world, notably given its proximity to the city.
And referring to the declared local weather emergency, the letter from BRCC states: “Going forward with this venture will lock PKC infrastructure into 14 years of estimated emissions of at the least 12,000 tCO2e per yr, totalling 168,000 tCO2e over its lifetime, and maintain again funding for transition to a extra sustainable renewable financial system.”
It additionally references the three areas of environmental designation that will be affected by the proposed growth and the potential lack of soil carbon.
The letter went on to say that the issues are usually not short-term however “ones that will probably be with us as a neighborhood for the complete length of the extraction, that's 16 years or extra, and a few will stick with us eternally.”
And the neighborhood council requested that, if permission was granted for the event, then a neighborhood payback scheme akin to these associated to windfarm developments within the space, be agreed with the area people and put in place.
Blairgowrie and Glens Conservative ward councillor Caroline Shiers won't be supporting the applying when it's thought of by the native authority.
She stated: “I've been studying the feedback made relating to this software.
“I've met with native residents and I'm in common contact with them relating to their issues.
“I will probably be looking for to help their representations when the applying is heard by the council and won't be supporting the applying as I actually consider the affect on Blairgowrie and the broader space will probably be destructive and that there are critical issues in relation to the setting, transport and roads and on the amenity of neighbouring residents.”
Tom McEwan can be a councillor for the Blairgowrie and Glens ward. The SNP elected member stated: “I'm not shocked the quarry plans have generated such public curiosity and I'm positive the planning report and committee will take care of the applying in its regular environment friendly approach with the chance for deputations and questions earlier than councillors make their determination.”