Mearns residents have slammed a bid to develop a holiday park on the site of a contaminated ‘pig cemetery’.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has already objected to the application to build 57 holiday lodges at the former piggery at Dowrieburn in Luthermuir on the grounds of flood risk.
Onsite facilities at the park being suggested include barbecues and hot tubs — described as “popular activities at the end of an active day outdoors”.
The application was lodged by Monarch Leisure and Park Homes whose director William McDonald is one of the men behind the controversial St Cyrus Travellers’ site at North Esk Park.
Site spokesman Alan Seath said the holiday park application was “totally different” to the North Esk development which appeared virtually overnight in 2013.
“We can understand that they don’t like change and we’re working to address a number of issues,” he said.
Mr Seath said transforming the contaminated site and building a holiday park would address a shortage of visitor accommodation in South Aberdeenshire.
North East Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said it was with “a sinking sense of deja vu” that he heard about the application.
He said: “Although we might be grateful that no construction work has taken place yet, there does seem to be a number of similarities with the North Esk Park debacle.
“Aberdeenshire Council should be monitoring events closely to ensure that any development stays within local planning policy and building regulations.”
The holiday lodges at Dowrieburn would be available for outright purchase at the agricultural site which was previously used as an intensive pig farm.
It is understood the large number of animal remains buried during its time as a working piggery will require a full site decontamination.
Mearns Community Council has objected to the application because it does not consider it to be “suitable” or “acceptable”.
Secretary Marjorie Stewart said: “Mearns Community Council does not consider this application to be appropriate or beneficial to the community.
“While understanding the economic benefits of encouraging tourism in the Mearns we do not believe this to be a suitable location for a holiday park.”
Local residents have objected to the proposal including David Nelson who said there is no infrastructure to support a holiday village.
He said: “There is no public transport, no shops and no leisure facilities.
“The road network around this site is a single track with few passing places.”
In an objection letter, Ciara Stewart said the development would have a negative effect on the value of her property.
“Holidaymakers would have to travel to Laurencekirk or Fettercairn for their basic needs,” she said.
“This would cause a constant stream of unwanted traffic again on roads which were not built to carry this volume.”
Conservative projections for occupancy levels at Dowrieburn, indicate that the development has the potential to generate an additional £1.4 million visitor spend per annum, which would support an additional 26 full-time equivalent jobs.
