Criticism of company’s vehicle storage proposal

Claims it will only add to the “considerable strain” on local roads

A rental company’s application to store commercial vehicles on land opposite several private properties in Grange has been criticised by the local community council.

Errol Community Council has filed an official objection to Morris Leslie Ltd’s application being passed by officials as the group believes the proposal contravenes several local authority planning policies.

Members say Morris Leslie Ltd intends to store the vehicles “directly across the road from ... houses in Grange” and argue this does not comply with a policy stating proposals must be “compatible with the surrounding land uses and ... not detrimentally impact on the amenity of residential properties”.

And they say allowing more vehicles to access the area will only add to the “considerable strain” local roads are said to be under at the moment, which they believe goes against a second policy stating local roads “must be suitable for the traffic generated by ... proposals”.

The group has told Perth and Kinross Council: “The application is for 50 vehicle parking spaces but does not state what type or size of vehicles will use the proposed site nor does it provide any details as to the frequency or timing of vehicle movements.

“The local road network is already under considerable strain from the commercial vehicle movements from other businesses located at Errol Airfield.

“Adding more commercial vehicle movements onto local roads must be supported by a road traffic assessment.”

The objection continues: “The location of the application [site] is within the settlement boundary of Grange and Errol Airfield and is directly across the road from the houses of Grange. The intended use of the site is highly likely to create significant noise and disturbance and will thus have a detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring residential properties.”

Several residents have also filed objections to the proposal being passed. One woman has told PKC: “This planning application is in part retrospect and an area of protected open space has already been cleared by the applicant. This has resulted in a significant loss of a landscape buffer zone.

“No further development of this protected open space area should be permitted. The applicant should be made to undo the work that was done prior to the planning application being submitted and required to take steps to mitigate for the loss of planting in the protected open space.”

The application will now need to be determined by the council’s planning and development management committee later this year.