A plan to build a temporary GP surgery in the Carse of Gowrie has been shelved after council chiefs notified developers they were set to reject it.
The Carse Medical Practice and developers Morris Leslie Ltd have told Perth and Kinross Council they are withdrawing their bid for a site near Westleys Farm Cottage at Errol.
Agents for the developers confirmed the decision was made after planners said they could not support the application in its current format.
A spokesperson said: “The council tell developers if they are going to recommend a plan for approval or not, and we were told this would be rejected.”
The Carse Medical Practice will now meet local councillors to discuss other options to provide a temporary GP surgery in the area.
The current doctors premises in Errol is due to be vacated on April 25 and the nearby surgery at St Madoes has been deemed unfit for purpose by NHS Tayside.
Conservative councillor Angus Forbes said residents’ concerns over traffic issues had played an important role in the withdrawal.
There have been several accidents on the road next to the proposed site.
“Road safety was a key factor in this and having visited the site myself, I was inclined to agree with that,” Mr Forbes said.
“However, the need for a GP surgery in the Carse of Gowrie is still very much there and I am concerned that this will further delay the resolution to a problem which has been there for many years.
“I know this is frustrating for the GPs who just want to get on and deliver high quality health care rather than deal with matters like this. It’s incumbent that everyone works together.”
Mr Forbes said he had asked the team at the GP practice for an update on their plans.
“They have agreed that they will meet with all the elected members in the next week or so to update us on the current situation,” he added.
“I will make sure the community are brought up to speed after that meeting has taken place.”
Labour councillor Alasdair Bailey said: “Many residents had concerns about a lack of visibility at the vehicle entrance/exit from the proposed site.”
Errol Community Council (ECC) had raised safety concerns about the siting of the surgery.
Gordon Miller, the group’s secretary, said: “Currently there is no pedestrian footpath from the crossroads at Errol station for around 200 metres to the proposed surgery location.
“This is a busy, narrow, national speed limit road used by heavy commercial vehicles accessing the Errol airfield businesses and is totally unsuitable for use by pedestrians. There was no mention in the application regarding the construction of a footpath.”
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “The Council as the local planning authority had identified issues regarding traffic safety and sustainable site access with the proposed location.
“Positive discussions are however in progress with the applicant regarding an alternative site and we understand a fresh application is anticipated in the near future.”
