By Alan Richardson

KINROSS-SHIRE should be given its own area planning committee to properly represent the views of local people after a series of controversial decisions went against them, it has been claimed.

Councillor Michael Barnacle resigned from the Perth and Kinross Council development control committee after a fourth steading conversion scheme in rural Kinross-shire was passed despite local objections.

Mr Barnacle said such decisions have sent out the message to developers that existing buildings are fair game for demolition and replacement with unsuitable housing blocks.

Backed by local groups, he has consistently called for council policies to be tightened up so that the “urbanisation” of his area is halted.

He left May’s committee meeting in disgust after a scheme to build houses at Boreland Farm, by Cleish, was effectively approved despite his own and local objections.

With a split committee, its convener, Councillor Willie Wilson, voted against Mr Barnacle, prompting the latter’s resignation as vice-convener and committee member.

He said, “I personally feel that the Boreland decision effectively sends a green light to the development sector that demolition of stone steadings—they are rarely listed—is the easy option followed by extensive new-build settlements in rural areas.

“The council should have a presumption against this and in favour of conversion, but I now hold no faith that there is any inclination to prevent the urbanisation of Kinross-shire.”

He continued, “Since my election to council in May 1999 and throughout the work on development strategies in Kinross-shire since 2004 I have pledged to try and protect the beautiful rural landscape and countryside of the shire from inappropriate development, but I now feel I may be unable to fulfil that promise unless the democratic deficit of local members’ views being overlooked is redressed by the formation of an area planning committee for Kinross-shire.

“I successfully moved a paper to set up an area committee for Kinross-shire in my first term in office but in spite of this it never came to fruition.”

He went on to claim internal letters on planning issues had gone ignored and matters had been decided under delegated powers—without having to come to committee—before he had been informed.

Mr Barnacle has insisted he and the various groups involved in the Kinross-shire planning process, including local community councils, the Civic Trust and Friends of Rural Kinross-shire, are not against housing in their area per se but that it must be done in a controlled and sympathetic manner.