A gorgeous Scottish village with a 19th-century castle is reportedly being “strangled” by the US developers who are trying to convert it into a “playground” for the super-rich. Kenmore in Perthshire is known for its wildlife, woodland estate and Taymouth Castle, which was a filming location for the 1997 Judi Dench film Mrs Brown.

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Locals are upset over the plans by Discovery Land Company to build a 320-hectare gated community on the Taymouth estate and neighbouring Glenlyon estate.

They claim the billionaires are trying to create a “playground” for the super-rich with 208 luxury homes in Kenmore, which has seen its local hotel and post office close.

An online group called “Protect Loch Tay” has been launched with the aim of halting the development and protecting the area’s wildlife and natural beauty.

Locals in the village, which only has about 100 residents, are particularly worried about the impact on the local populations of beavers, otters, birds and rare fish – but the firm has insisted that it has invested in environmental consultation for its plans.

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Campaigners claimed the Taymouth estate, which was once freely open for walkers, is now cordoned off with “path closed” signs and security warnings.

The famous castle is reportedly going under a major £300million restoration project and is now covered in scaffolding. 

Built in 1806, the castle was visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert during their honeymoon in 1842 and is believed to have sparked the monarch’s love of Scotland, so much so that she then went and bought Balmoral in Aberdeenshire.

But taxi firm owner Rob Jamieson, who founded Protect Loch Tay, told the Observer: “They’re taking away ground that’s been an amenity for people for years and making it exclusive in the name of profit.

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“This isn’t a hotel where you can take your wife out for a meal, or a golf course where you can go along and play. 

“It’s all for their very rich members and not the community that’s already here.”

Mr Jamieson claimed in The National that there are plans to turn Taymouth Castle into an exclusive, members-only hotel with suites starting at £4,500 per night. His group has more than 2,000 members on Facebook, and he said: “I’m not an expert – I’m just a local person who doesn’t want to see the place spoiled.

“They say they want to build a ‘community’ here, but we already have a community. These plans only exist to squeeze profit out of it.”

The group has also launched a petition for the Scottish Government to block further work, and this has already attracted more than 15,000 signatures since it was launched 11 days ago.

The petition stated: “The developers are a group of American billionaires who specialise in exclusive gated ‘worlds’ for the super-rich. This is not what Scotland is about.

“We don’t need an influx of American millionaires and their speed boats, watersports and helicopter taxis, destroying our peaceful loch which is enjoyed by not only local residents, but tens of thousands of visitors every year – by way of fishing, walking, canoeing, nature watching, sailing etc. 

“All peaceful pursuits natural to our tranquil and beautiful Loch Tay.”

The area’s two senior Scottish National Party politicians – Pete Wishart MP and John Swinney MSP – are holding a meeting tomorrow to hear concerns from residents.

Mr Wishart, SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said the level of unrest in the area had prompted him and Mr Swinney to step in.

He told The Courier: “We know there is a lot of concern about the proposed development and this will be an opportunity to hear the voices of the community.”

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