THE ECONOMIC benefits of attracting a national curling academy to Kinross outweighed the retention of open land in the town, councillors decided yesterday.

After hearing that a number of alternative sites for the project elsewhere in Scotland were anxiously awaiting the outcome of the meeting to see if they could lure the academy away, the development control committee unanimously backed the plan.

However, it did stipulate that as much be done as possible to mitigate the impact on neighbouring properties and asked that there be as much public consultation as possible.

The new site at The Muirs will feature a six-rink ice pad, changing facilities, a gym, a curling museum and offices. This will replace the existing facilities at the nearby Green Hotel.

The intention is that the project should be completed by 2011.

In a presentation to the committee, the councillors heard that the building would take up around 20% of the site and there would be 68 parking spaces.

Paul Kyle of the council’s economic development department said the venture could bring significant benefits to the area in terms of employment and an influx of visitors attracted by important tournaments.

Councillor Willie Wilson reiterated this, saying, “This is a major application for Kinross, and Perth and Kinross, and of huge economic significance.”

This was backed up by local councillor Sandy Miller, who said that local people “by and large” were in favour of the project and the site.

One man who lives near the site said he was for a curling academy in Kinross but felt that the use of this particular site would have an unreasonable impact on his home.

While expressing sympathy with the man, the committee unanimously approved the application— although final design and siting issues will be determined when a full application is lodged.