After days of controversy Perth and Kinross Council has backtracked over the alleged illegal siting of a fun fair on the South Inch.
Amid complaints from furious residents, local authority officials had told representatives of M&Ds to move on.
Somewhat bizarrely, the council had granted the firm a public entertainment licence for their shows but no ground lease allowing them to occupy the site, which is just yards from upmarket residential properties.
Several days after the arrival of M&Ds’ equipment, and with no end to the impasse in sight, Perth and Kinross Council on Friday night agreed to grant a ground let to the company on the condition the fun fair ceases operation at 8pm every night.
Residents of nearby Marshall Place had insisted noise from the attraction was making life unbearable a claim which appeared to be backed up by the council’s own officials.
In representations made to members of the licensing committee over a month ago a spokesman from the council’s environment department had urged councillors to reject the application, saying it would cause annoyance “day and night.”
Nevertheless, a spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council confirmed that the temporary settlement had now been granted permission.
“The council can confirm it has been in discussions with the fun fair operators in order to find a way forward which both addresses concerns raised by residents and also allows people to enjoy the fun fair, ” he said.Noise tests”Noise tests were carried out by the council on Thursday to check noise levels from the fun fair.
“These tests indicated it is likely that the fun fair could operate without causing nuisance levels of noise for surrounding residents.
“Further tests will be carried out to ensure compliance.”
The spokesman said the funfair’s operators had made certain concessions.
“In the interests of resolving this issue in a satisfactory manner, the council has agreed to grant a ground let to the funfair operators, but has negotiated a reduction in the hours the fun fair will operate, with it closing at 8pm, ” he remarked.
“It will also not operate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
“The let is subject to stringent conditions regarding noise, disposal of litter and waste water, vehicle access (including no parking or driving vehicles over the flood defence embankment), fencing of the site and management of cabling and pipes.
“The council will be monitoring the fun fair during the course of its operation, ” the spokesman added.