Fears have been voiced that a rural idyll will be shattered for the next quarter century by the creation of a gravel quarry.
Plans have been placed before Perth and Kinross Council to extend the right to extract sand and gravel at Glenquey, near Glendevon village in the Ochils, until 2035.
Rights to do so have existed since 1984, but the land remains virtually untouched.
Uddingston-based owner, Cemex UK Operations a cement and concrete producer, wants to restart work that stopped almost two decades ago.
Locals fear the work will result in noise, dust and light pollution, while also generating intolerable traffic on the A823.
They point out there were three fatalities on the road last year and say there is already a higher than average accident rate on a narrow road with no grass verges and poor visibility.
There is also fear over the environmental effect on the Ochils.
Stuart Dean, chairman of the Friends of the Ochils said, “The Ochils are a vital recreational resource for the people of central Scotland.VisitorsHe added, “The Glendevon area is visited by thousands each year. New paths have been created through the local hills thanks to the efforts of Woodland Trust Scotland, and more and more people are coming to the area to enjoy the countryside.
“Over 9000 people a year walk the popular right of way between Dollar and Glendevon and that route would go right past the quarry site.”
Paul Evans, who lives at the side of the A823 and regularly walks in the area, said, “The proposed development would have a severe impact on our enjoyment of this beautiful area and we would experience a major increase in HGVs along the A823.
“The danger to other road users would increase hugely.”
Malcolm Best, who lives in Glenquey, just yards from the site, said, “The sound of birdsong and the bleating of sheep would be replaced by the noise of industrial machinery and heavy lorries. It doesn’t bear thinking about.”
The quarry would be visible from Clackmannanshire Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV), and Clackmannanshire Council is being asked to object to the development, while local politicians are being lobbied.
Four community councils in the area, the Muckhart and Glendevon Amenity Society and the Friends of the Ochils are all formally objecting.
Mr Dean said, “Perth and Kinross Council need to recognise that people’s attitudes to the preservation of great scenic beauty have changed since the licence was granted back in 1984.
“They must reject this insidious application and instead start considering how best to protect this beautiful part of the Ochils for future generations. Designating it as an AGLV, as in neighbouring Clackmannanshire, would be a start.”
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user robertpaulyoung.