New village kirk approved

Oct 27 2006 Andrew Welsh

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new kirk in a Perthshire village were given the green light this week – despite serious road safety concerns.

Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s development control committee gave Auchtergaven and Moneydie Church the go-ahead to build a replacement church on land at Bankfoot’s western edge, following the loss of the congregation’s previous hilltop premises in a devastating fire three years ago.

Despite vociferous local opposition, the parish’s Reverend Iain McFadzean stressed the new building at Tulliebelton Road would be one everyone in Bankfoot would be proud of.

He said that by incorporating a community centre within the church, the applicants had struck a balance between “modern, functional provision” and “retention of the village’s heritage and history”.

“It will be both a church and a community facility with easy access for every age group,” Rev McFadzean told committee members.

Rev McFadzean said the new centre would replace the hall currently used on a temporary basis by the congregation and would house a drop-in cafe for young people, a crèche and a day care lounge. Consultations with residents started almost immediately after the 19th Century church was destroyed by fire, resulting in a “wish-list” of services needed in the village.

“We have tried to incorporate the wishes, needs and desires of the community into the project and saw it as a great opportunity to do so,” added Rev McFadzean.

“At the same time, we have tried to resolve the issues raised by those who are not happy with our proposals.

Rev McFadzean stressed that plans to “make good” the shell of the existing church were also afoot but, due to insurance reasons, could only move forward if planning permission was granted.

He revealed that designs for a reconstructed Gothic-style tower on Cairneyhill had already been drawn up and that supporters were “desperate” to see the proposal realised.

However, a council planner was forced to concede that officials have concerns about pedestrian access at the proposed site, after Bankfoot resident William Hunter had raised an objection to the scheme on grounds of lack of roads investment and an alleged “poor” parking provision.

Committee member Alexander Stewart acknowledged Mr Hunter’s stance, but stopped short of opposing the proposals.

“This is going to be a very busy location, but so many individuals going back and forward could cause some real problems,” he argued.

Vice-convener Lorraine Caddell went a step further and called for a condition of approval stipulating that all traffic enters and exits the site by the same road, thereby scrapping plans for a one-way system.

Putting aside the traffic concerns, member Ian Miller said the need for a new church “could not be understated”.

Members agreed to back the application on condition that the roads issues are satisfactorily resolved and no work starts until a scheme to safeguard the listed old kirk shell has been agreed.