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Kenmore Leisure Development Gets Green Light

Taymouth Holiday Centre in Kenmore secured approval by P&K for its multi-million pound plans for a major leisure project to replace its touring caravan and camping capacity and an extensive part of the site which is, at present, a nine-hole golf course.

Despite six letters of objection, including concerns raised by Kenmore Community Council about the scale of the proposal and the cumulative effect it may have on the Taymouth Castle Project, the committee’s clearance was unanimous.

The community council and its chairman Mr James Duncan Millar protested that the support of P&K Development Control ignores the views of the rest of the community and overruns the question that one business should be allowed to expand in such a way that it swamps others in the area.

‘Tourist’ = ‘Good’

He reckoned that project carries the ‘tourist’ label it must be ‘good’ and Perth & Kinross favours it. “Never mind the view that, at this scale, Kenmore will be wrecked as a tourist village if it loses its heart and has no indigenous people to live in it to manage the countryside and to be here when the tourist boom passes. There are almost 400 ‘holiday’ houses in existence - or being proposed - along the eastern shores of Loch Tay,” he said.

“We recognise that some individuals directly involved in the project and its construction and subsequent business management do support the project, but the rest of us feel very strongly opposed and, as such, placed an objection.”

The building of 58 residential units, a golf clubhouse and leisure centre, tennis courts and children’s play facility was hailed as fulfilling a “dire need” for such a tourist targeted development.

The development will modernise the estate and its anticipated 22 full-time and eight part time jobs will be generated by the upgrade, as well as a youth training programme.

Robin Menzies of Taymouth Holiday Centre, the instigator of the five-star self-catering accommodation, explained: “The benefits are felt throughout the local economy. I believe that this proposal, worked on in consultation with the planning department, will be a great asset for Perthshire.”

C’llr Ken Lyall observed: “These are exciting proposals for an exciting part of Highland Perthshire.”  C’llr Ian Campbell, agreed, saying: “This is the kind of development Highland Perthshire is in dire need of.”

Development Control committee convener C’llr Willie Wilson, added: “This is an excellent application, the type of development destination Perth and Kinross needs to improve the quality and range of accommodation available”