By Dave Lord

A PAIR of influential Kinross-shire organisations have heaped yet more criticism upon Perth and Kinross Council’s beleaguered planning department, accusing senior officials of backing “unsuitable developments.”

Both the Friends of Rural Kinross-shire (FORK) and the Kinross-shire Civic Trust have blasted the local authority.

They joined forces to accuse elected members and planning chiefs of riding roughshod over policies, spoiling the area’s natural beauty with “close-knit suburban housing of mediocre architecture.”

Just last week disgusted senior councillor Michael Barnacle resigned as convener of the local authority’s development control committee, insisting too many substandard and unsuitable proposals were being passed.

And the latest criticism comes four months after significant aspects of the planning process were deemed “weak” in an audit.

It found that bungling Perth and Kinross Council employees were undermining public confidence.

Documents relating to almost 30% of applications were found to have been misfiled and in one particularly worrying case a personal application submitted by a planning officer was evaluated by a colleague, then approved by another without external scrutiny.

Although senior council officials insisted steps had been taken to address the issues raised, concerns evidently remain in Kinross-shire.

A letter from FORK and Kinross-shire Civic Trust outlines a number of issues.

“For some time we have been increasingly concerned at the rate of housing development in rural Kinross-shire,” they say.

“There is no doubt that the area has been singled out for increased housing development.

“Kinross-shire is continuing to expand as a dormitory suburb for those working in the central belt, encouraging long-distance commuting which is quite contrary to the government’s policies on sustainable development.

“There has also been little thought given to the planning of infrastructure.”

Both FORK and the civic trust say a number of so-called brownfield sites have been eroded by “luxury housing” specifically designed for incomers.

“This situation would never have been reached if the principles of the Kinross Local Plan and the Housing in the Countryside policy had been adhered to but, due to pressure from developers, Perth and Kinross Council relaxed the policies,” the letter continues.

“Even so there remains…a major gulf between the stated policies of the planning authority on the one hand and the practice of council officials on the other in recommending many unsuitable developments.”

Quality of life for Kinross-shire residents has traditionally been high, but FORK and the civic trust fear it is under serious threat.

“Kinross-shire is a beautiful area which is why people want to come and live here,” they say.

“It will not continue to be so unless a sustainable policy is enforced.

“Allowing close-knit suburban housing of mediocre architecture in the middle of rural areas will do absolutely nothing to maintain the attraction of Kinross-shire.”

Both FORK and the civic trust have pledged to press Perth and Kinross Council for more open discussion on the issue.