By Paul Reoch

PERTH AND Kinross Council members are being urged to give their backing to a plan by Tesco to build a supermarket in Crieff over one submitted by their rivals, Sainsbury’s.

Jim Irons, the council’s executive director, has stated that he would prefer the Tesco eco-store, which would be located on land at Duchlage Farm, Brioch.

The reasons given for this decision are that the Duchlage site offers the “best overall” planning solution for “this part” of Crieff.

The two leading supermarkets have been vying for one of the sites in Crieff, with Sainsbury’s original plan to build on Market Park being refused by the council in 2006.

This was appealed and then sustained by the Scottish Government.

Sainsbury’s displayed their plans for the historic site at Market Park, which is home for the Crieff Highland Gathering, to the public at a Crieff hotel.

Perth and Kinross Council have approved plans for a superstore at Market Park and also the building of a sports ground on land off Pittenzie Road, but both proposals have conditions attached relating to addressing possible contamination of land.

However, the council retain the lease of the Market Park site and have now stated that they would prefer a supermarket to be built at the Duchlage Farm site—primarily because it would provide land for a new primary school.

In a report to be discussed at a full meeting of Perth and Kinross Council on Wednesday, Mr Irons will tell members that they should consider the “flexibility” to meet “long-term” retail requirements.

“The Market Park site is unlikely to be able to accommodate any significant additional retail development beyond the current consent, without adversely impacting on the area of open space for informal recreation,” he said.

“The Duchlage site, however, is larger and therefore would be able to accommodate additional retail development should this be appropriate in the future.”

And Mr Irons acknowledged the furore the uncertainty has caused amongst residents in Crieff.

“From the outset opinions on the development of Market Park have been divided,” he continued.

“The result of the developers’ consultation show that there is support from some residents for the development of a super- market on the Market Park site.

“However, the results of the council’s consultation showed that a large number of respondents would be concerned or very concerned at the loss of the Market Park as a recreational area.”

Mr Irons highlights the need for a site for a new primary school in Crieff and that, as such, the Duchlage Farm plan would be preferred.

He goes on, “Should the supermarket development on the Duchlage Farm site not proceed, it is unlikely that it will be possible to reach an agreement with the landowner to acquire the adjacent site for education uses within an appropriate timescale to allow the building of a new school.

“There is currently only scope for one additional supermarket in Crieff.

“It is considered that Market Park in its existing use has considerable value as a well- located open space, which has great potential to be improved and this is a legitimate planning consideration.”

Mr Irons will tell council members that the Market Park site planning consent can’t be implemented because Perth and Kinross Council holds the lease.

“If the council decides to confirm Duchlage as the preferred site for a new supermarket, there is no action to be taken in relation to this lease—although Sainsbury’s have requested that the council relinquish the lease and a formal response to this will still need to be addressed.

“If the council decides that it now prefers Market Park as the location for a new supermarket, it will have to negotiate terms for relinquishing the lease and this would be dealt with through the normal council processes.”

He continued, “The retention of Market Park as an area of open space will have a positive impact for residents, especially for mobility disabled, mobility impaired, elderly people and children.

“Although a detailed planning consent now exists for the development of a supermarket at Market Park, it can’t be implemented unless the council relinquishes its lease.

“This gives the council a unique opportunity to once again consider its preferred site for a new supermarket in Crieff.

“It is acknowledged that in retail planning terms, the Market Park site is sequentially the best site, but it would be possible to both retain and improve Market Park as a recreational area and still provide a supermarket on the adjacent Duchlage Farm site.

“In conclusion, it is considered that the Duchlage site still offers the best overall planning solution for this part of Crieff in terms of securing a supermarket in the town and providing land for new primary school provision.”