Scottish ministers have approved council designs for a flood protection scheme for Comrie costing nearly £28 million subject to over a dozen conditions.
The Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) published a decision on its website to grant Perth and Kinross Council planning permission for the project a fortnight ago.
The proposed scheme comprises around 2.8km of new flood walls and embankments on the Water of Ruchill and the River Earn reaching from Dalginross Bridge to Comrie Holiday Park and from Aros Field to the east side of Tay Place.
A decision letter signed by DPEA case officer Alex Kerr says ministers’ approval of the scheme comes subject to 16 separate conditions mostly relating to local biodiversity.
The conditions stipulate the council must appoint an independent and suitably qualified ecological clerk of works who has the authority to stop or alter operations deemed damaging to natural heritage before any development starts.
They also say measures must be implemented to protect animals from being trapped in open excavations and/or pipe culverts and no hedgerows, trees or shrubs may be removed at times when they may be used by breeding birds unless its clear no birds will be harmed.
