The chairman of Pitlochry Conservation Society fears builder Upland Developments will “just keep trying” to push through controversial plans despite a number of knockbacks.
Council planners have delayed any decision on the Aviemore-based firm’s latest town centre proposals to allow time for further investigation.
The new head of planning and regeneration for Perth and Kinross Council, David Littlejohn, visited Pitlochry earlier this week to see the site, part of which is in a conservation area.
Upland wants to demolish Bank House, which was built in Victorian times, and the former Greggs bakery building on Atholl Road to create a motel and supermarket complex. Its two previous applications were overwhelmingly rejected by both the public and the local development control committee, despite minor adaptations.
However Jim Tyrrell and PCS members are “deeply concerned” the company will continue to push until local people lose interest and it is finally successful.
Historic Scotland recently put its weight behind the PCS campaign to protect the conservation site, filing an official letter of objection which called for the retention of both buildings.
Mr Tyrrell said the objection letter “carries considerable punch and has to be considered by the planners and the councillors when making the ultimate decision that will protect Pitlochry’s unique character for the future, or destroy it completely.’Neglected'”Both buildings, contrary to the opinion of the defunct community council, are neither derelict nor dangerous if secured, and requiring only a lick of paint to improve their neglected outward appearance,” he said.
“It seems likely that the speculative developers have adopted the ploy of resubmitting until the objectors eventually lose the will to fight but they haven’t reckoned on the tenacity of the Pitlochry townspeople who demand better.
“The townspeople are not likely to give up without a long fight as they have little doubt, too, that this development has the potential to destroy the very heart of one of Highland Perthshire’s true tourist gems.”
PCS recently wrote to Upland chief David Cameron requesting he maintains the site and threatening to clean it themselves if he does not respond.