I suspect this will alienate me on this forum, but I have to say I have been concerned for many years by the Anglicism of Scotland in terms of some of the ridiculous abominations which have been allowed to be built here.
'Brookside Close' type shopping centres have sprung up in many of the new towns, such as Dalgety Bay, Glenrothes, and many others, which were created predominantly for incoming electronics white collar workers who, presumably, had to be catered for so that they would feel comfortable in their little piece of Englandshire up here.
In smallholder terms, there have been allowed so many barn/steading conversions and developments of housing schemes that there are now very few traditional buildings in which to house livestock, and many of the holdings have been built over, or swallowed up by large agricultural businesses, so that now there is not enough land left in small plots to satisfy the needs of those who would seek to feed themselves.
Wildlife has suffered directly as a direct result of the predations of those who deny the importance of maintaining traditional agricultural buildings and practices; barn owls, swallows, swifts, house martins, house sparrows have all gone into severe decline due to the destruction of their habitats and preferred nesting sites.
Some of the buildings which have been allowed to be built in this country are complete eyesores, I cite Aviemore in particular, and should be torn down and replaced by something in keeping with the local materials/designs.
One doesn't have to go far in any direction to see buildings of alien designs sticking out like sore thumbs in my once beautiful landscapes, in many cases occupied by people who have little or nothing to do with others around them, thus fragmenting any sense of community which prevailed before they came with their ideas for change.
The planners may indeed be contentious, and may lack social skills when dealing with applicants, and I certainly don't condone their alleged misuse of power or their disrespectful attitudes but, given the amount of disregard of the rules by those who would build then apply for retrospective permission, or developers who tear down listed buildings then pay a paltry fine before going ahead with their original plans anyway on the strength of backhanders and funny handshakes, I imagine it must be very frustrating to be employed in a planning department.
Scotland has lost its way due to social engineering by the UK government, and is fast becoming just another piece of England, sadly.
