Developers behind a proposal to build a care home and houses on the site of a former Perth hospital have moved to allay traffic concerns.
Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council fears the proposal submitted by Melford Developments could add to traffic congestion in the nearby Dundee Road.
The Edinburgh-based company want to build a 60-bed care home, 46 retirement flats and cottages and 35 homes on the former site of Hillside Hospital, which was demolished in 2007. However, the possible impact on traffic was raised by the community council and Councillor Eric Drysdale, a SNP representative for the Perth City Centre ward.
The councillor is hoping the developers look at access to Dundee Road from the proposed site.
At a recent meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s planning and development management committee, he said: “There are a few aspects I would like very detailed consideration to be given to. The first is access to an exit from Dundee Road which is a very busy route.
“I’m thinking about construction traffic, in particular exiting from the site and turning right to go out of the city, across what is a very busy road.”
He continued: “I would ask that a traffic assessment takes full consideration not just of the immediate location of the site but also into Bridgend, the bridges and the city centre.
“We are hopeful the Cross Tay Link Road will be complete in 2023 but there are no guarantees at this stage and that is still five years away. In light of that it would be helpful for the construction firm to have a time frame and any phasing proposals they may wish to make in relation to the development either side of 2023.”
The developers organised a public consultation which took place on Thursday in Kinnoull Parish Church Hall, and Stuart Szylak, the developers planning agent, said a “variety of topics” were discussed at the event, including traffic.
“Despite the weather there was an encouraging turnout with over 65 people visiting the venue to view the proposals and discuss these with the developer’s advisors,” he said.
“Many questions and comments were raised on a variety of topics.
“The developer has received useful feedback as a result of the consultation exercise. The project team will now review the feedback and take this forward into the next stages of design.”
