TCT submitted a response based on feedback from members. Thank you for getting in touch to give us your views.
Category: Planning Applications
Stirling Council granted us an extension to submit responses to this complex planning proposal. However, the deadline has now passed.
I would like to thank everyone who took time to contact the council with your views. Amazing community spirit đź‘Ź đź‘Ź đź‘Ź
From Councillor Martin Earl
Dear All,
I am advising both Community Councils of the outcome of the Planning Hearing to determine the Shelloch Windfarm application that took place yesterday.
The application was approved by the planning panel. Their meetings are held online via MS teams. I have attached a copy of the report to committee by the planning officer and a copy of my presentation for your information.
I am extremely disappointed not only in the outcome but also the process that took place that to my mind impedes good quality presentations by those wanting to raise objections or concerns – external input is only allowed by phone call so one cannot present graphics and has to read out a submission.
A planning specialist working for a large firm has produced this objection letter with instructions as attached. It focuses on the areas which he reckons are most likely to allow effective objections.
- The letter will be effective if sent as is following the instructions. i.e. no problem if used by multiple people as long as it is from a named resident with address.
- The letter can be added to with an individual’s other views / objections or these can be included in a covering email. So this letter does not detract from the value of detailed objection in other areas.
- While there’s nothing to stop multiple objection letters from one individual he thought it slightly better for each person to send all their objections in one go.
- It could also be uploaded to the Planning Portal (though formatting goes).
- It’s important to copy in the people he suggests. The Community Council is copied to keep them in the loop as to comments / objections / numbers / issues which they might then use as evidence.
- He says it’s good we have specialists to tackle the environmental / flooding etc. assessments (as well as flaws in the pre planning consultation). However at first glance he reckoned that flooding / sewage / water issues were fairly likely to be overcome by a developer.
A planning specialist working for a large firm has produced this objection letter with instructions as attached. It focuses on the areas which he reckons are most likely to allow effective objections.
- The letter will be effective if sent as is following the instructions. i.e. no problem if used by multiple people as long as it is from a named resident with address.
- The letter can be added to with an individual’s other views / objections or these can be included in a covering email. So this letter does not detract from the value of detailed objection in other areas.
- While there’s nothing to stop multiple objection letters from one individual he thought it slightly better for each person to send all their objections in one go.
- It could also be uploaded to the Planning Portal (though formatting goes).
- It’s important to copy in the people he suggests. The Community Council is copied to keep them in the loop as to comments / objections / numbers / issues which they might then use as evidence.
- He says it’s good we have specialists to tackle the environmental / flooding etc. assessments (as well as flaws in the pre planning consultation). However at first glance he reckoned that flooding / sewage / water issues were fairly likely to be overcome by a developer.
We have heard back from the Planning Department that they will accept consultation responses up to 21st January 2022 from individuals and other organisations.
Seemingly the word count on the online Planning Portal is limited to 5000 characters, so if you have a lengthier submission to make to them, you could send it by email or in the post in good time to reach them by the 21st.
- By email to planning@stirling.gov.uk
- By post to Planning Services, Teith House, Kerse Road, Stirling FK7 7QA
A useful document for help in writing your response here
There seems to be problems with the planning portal so we have downloaded the documents and placed them in a folder in the TCT shared drive. They are at
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fX7ls446FajETuxU-NfXvhJQ1iGwjulR?usp=sharing
Please make sure you close the link down after use so as not to overload our system.
We would urge you to submit your own responses to the Planning Department as well as CC/TCT, as seemingly the Council take more notice if there is a high number of comments.
Currently we’re working towards the 30th December deadline.
You may be aware of a proposed mixed housing/ industrial development on the edge of Thornhill, which includes 73 new houses and JCC moving to the new site.
The proposal concerns land North West Of And At Burnside Works Main Street Thornhill.
More information can be found on the Stirling Council Planning website at https://pabs.stirling.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=R30NNMPIJ0E00
Community councils have a statutory right to be consulted on applications for planning permission and represent the local viewpoint on developments.
Thornhill & Blairdrummond Community Council are hosting an open meeting online this Wednesday evening (15th Dec), contact ThornhillBlairdrummondCC@gmail.com for the joining instructions
There are a couple of things to note:
- There are 47 documents in total so you may want to concentrate on the areas which affect you most or which you have expertise in.
- The deadline for comments to the Planning Department is 30th December which doesn’t give us much time to study the documents. However, the Community Council has requested an extension to this deadline so I will inform you if it is granted.
- As Thornhill residents you have the right to comment on this planning application either directly to the Planning Department or via the Community Council. TCT will also develop a response based on your feedback.
Please respond to chair@thornhillstirling.org if you would like your views included in the TCT response.
Thornhill and Blair Drummond Community Council have become aware that there is some confusion in the community regarding the proposed windfarm development on the hills behind Kippen.
Force 9 Energy previously had an application for 7 wind turbines, of 125m tip height, consented by the Scottish Government. This consent has expired.
The current, new, application is for 5 wind turbines, of up to 180m tip height. These will be visible from Thornhill. (For comparison, Wallace Monument is 67m tall.) The montage below, taken from the developer’s application, illustrates how these might look from Port of Menteith (this is the closest point to Thornhill for which an illustration is provided).
The planning application reference is 20/00840/FUL, and full details of the application can be found on Stirling Council’s Planning Portal using the following link:
A number of Stirlingshire residents have submitted comments about the proposed development. We suspect that many may have not commented, under the mistaken belief that this development has already received consent.
If you wish to comment, please do so using the above link, no later than 13 February 2021. Comments may also be made to Thornhill and Blair Drummond Community Council at ThornhillBlairdrummondCC@gmail.com for inclusion in our community response to the proposal.
A link to a proposed development for new housing in Low Town, Thornhill can be found here.
Please contact Thornhill & Blairdrummond Community Council with any comments. ThornhillBlairdrummondCC@gmail.com