Perth & Kinross Council has today thrown out, by a resounding margin of 21 votes to 3, a planning application for a luxury golf course, health spa and restaurant development that would, if granted, have caused immense damage to the Black Wood of Rannoch special area of conservation and the River Tay special area of conservation.
Speaking after the council meeting, Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Head of Policy Tony King said “The Scottish Wildlife Trust is delighted that this ridiculous proposal will not see the light of day. Perth & Kinross Council is to be congratulated on throwing out, on principle, such a damaging application. We hope that other local authorities follow their example and take seriously Scotland’s international obligations to protect our most precious habitats.”
Scottish Wildlife Trust believes the proposed development would have breached Article 10 of the Habitats Directive and section 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Furthermore the development did not feature in the Perth & Kinross Local Plan.
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Tony King, Head of Policy
Tel: 07795 608 262 or email: tking@swt.org.uk
1. Background to the campaign and the SWT’s reasons for objection to the development are available on request.
2. SWT is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 33,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 reserves Scotland-wide.
3. SWT has been campaigning against the proposal, which is on the site of the former Rannoch school, since August 2009. The proposal failed to demonstrate that it wouldn’t cause significant damage to the Black Wood of Rannoch special area of conservation and the River Tay special area of conservation.
4. SWT receives financial assistance and support from Scottish Natural Heritage and People’s Postcode Lottery.
5. SWT is a member of The Wildlife Trusts (TWT), a partnership of 47 wildlife trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. Together, we are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.