Bottled water giant Highland Spring has sparked a row with neighbours over plans to build a freight train depot as big as “five full-size international football pitches”.
The firm wants to expand its rail yard at the edge of the Perthshire village of Blackford, with plans for a 70ft crane and storage space for hundreds of shipping containers.
Bosses say the development will help the company grow and could dramatically slash its carbon footprint.
But the plans have prompted a backlash from locals who claim the round-the-clock operation will be a major disturbance and could even lead to more lorries travelling through the village.
Objectors organised a leaflet drop, calling on hundreds of families living on the edge of the yard to fight the plans with written complaints to council officers.
In their pamphlet, opponents claim the 109-tonne crane will be the size of four-and-a-half double-decker buses stacked on top of one another. As well as noise and light pollution, objectors argue the scheme could also have a harmful impact on wildlife including otters, red squirrels and bats.
They claimed Highland Spring has tried to sneak through the plans although the company has stressed the proposals were properly unveiled to the community at a consultation event this year.
One resident said: “It’s a real worry for a lot of people. I think folk were surprised to see how big this would be.
“It will totally devalue the price of homes around here but, of course, that’s not a valid objection, according to the council.”
In his letter to planning chiefs, another objector simply wrote: “Please note my total horror on reading the above application. Whoever dreamt up this catastrophe should be placed under the next train.”
A spokeswoman for Highland Spring said the plans were announced in June, adding: “This investment included an initiative designed to increase the volume of our product transported by rail rather than road through the development of a rail siding in Blackford.”
She added: “The local community is at the heart of our business and we are 100% committed to keeping all local residents closely informed of our plans. That’s why we invited every household in Blackford to attend a drop-in session in August to hear more about our long-term development plans. In addition to Highland Spring Group employees, 35 members of the local community attended.
“We are very mindful of our position within the local community and we are committed to being a good neighbour. After more than 35 years in Blackford, supporting the community remains one of our key priorities.”