Highland and P&K Councils Both Object to Powerline Proposals

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Rallying Call to 'Protect Rohallion'

One of the world’s most famous literary locations is under threat from a large-scale development which, it is feared, could devastate an invaluable piece of Perthshire’s heritage, writes Fiona Ross of Perth.

Yorkshire-based Ventura Lodges has submitted plans to Perth and Kinross Council for a holiday park of 49 chalets with onsite washing, sewerage and car-parking facilities in the historic Birnam Wood. The picturesque location made famous in Shakespeare’s internationally renowned play, Macbeth, is currently home to ospreys, red kites, nesting swans and red squirrel, but locals believe that the developer’s plans would jeopardise the wildlife as well as the unique atmosphere of the tranquil setting.

Heritage & Wildlife

“It’s unbelievable that anyone would think of destroying the heritage we have here,” said Rohallion resident Dennis Elleray. “We’ve got the Macbeth Experience just down the road and the actual address of the development site is Birnam Wood, but once it’s gone it’s gone forever.

They would ruin something absolutely idyllic for a quick buck.” Mr Elleray’s house on the banks of Rohallion would be adjacent to a proposed car-park for 100 cars and would overlook a septic-waste facility planned for the 49 homes.

Based upon an aerial photograph © Brian Snell 2005, the photomontage by Rohallion Protest shows an aerial view of Rohallion

Loch and Stare Dam indicating the location and extent of the chalet park adjacent to the Loch.

“There’s a perfect lookout spot on Stair Bridge above us here that’s highlighted in all the tourist information as a great place to view the beauty of Rohallion,” explained Mr Elleray. “But if this plan went ahead all they would be looking at would be the roofs of 100 cars and these chalets.”

Mr Elleray went on to explain that the special nature of the proposed site comprises not only its natural beauty, but its significance in the life of one of Scotland’s most famous monarchs and his subsequent title role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.“There is something that sets this place apart,” he said. “People coming here feel the peace and quiet, but also the mystery and extraordinary atmosphere.”

Campaign

That pervading sense of history recently attracted a film crew from Scottish Television to the banks of Rohallion Loch where they shot a Macbeth-focussed piece for their evening news bulletin. Highlighting the objections to Ventura Lodge’s proposed development, the Scottish television feature recreated the famous scene of the three prophesying witches who warn Macbeth of trouble to come. Sadly this sense of foreboding has returned to Birnam Wood with the prospect of diggers and construction machinery preparing to descend upon this fragile and historic environment.

Perth artist and teacher, Irene Watson, recently added her voice to the growing protest campaign when she visited Birnam Wood with a class of landscape students: “We’ve enjoyed painting this stunning landscape over many years and think it would be a terrible shame if this was lost because of such an insensitive proposal,” she said.

More than 300 individual letters of objection have so far been sent to Perth and Kinross Council in a bid to halt this controversial development. Many of these objectors have also expressed their concerns via the campaign’s website: www.rohallion.com .