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'We don't want to live in a museum', say residents of Local Hero village

Alamy A shot from the movie Local Hero, two actors sitting at a harbour next to a red phone box.Alamy
Local Hero is widely regarded as a classic film

Some residents in the Scottish village where the movie Local Hero was filmed want its conservation status to be removed as they say the rules make them feel like they "live in a museum".

Pennan - and its red phone box - featured in the 1983 Bill Forsyth movie starring Burt Lancaster.

Its conservation status means that villagers have to follow various guidelines if they wish to make upgrades to their homes - like satellite dishes or more energy efficient windows.

Aberdeenshire Council's Banff and Buchan area committee is now seeking a full conservation status review.

In the film Local Hero, representatives of a US petro-chemical giant - who are seeking to build a refinery in a coastal village - are won over by the gentler rhythms of the local life.

A view from a field, with a black cow in the foreground, and the village of Pennan below in the distance at the foot of cliffs, rows of white houses, and a red phone box.
Pennan - with the phone box visible - is nestled at the foot of cliffs

Members of the committee considered a report on the upkeep of the coastal village.

A similar report previously went before the committee, but councillors asked that further consultation be carried out with the community first.

In its latest document, Aberdeenshire Council describes Pennan as a "unique and remarkable" fishing village that is "set within a dramatic location".

It is said to have "one of the most distinctive and recognisable views in Aberdeenshire".

The report also mentions that Pennan was used for the film, and continues to draw movie fans to the village.

Under conservation area guidance, uPVC windows - which are well insulated and energy efficient - are said to be not in keeping with the character of the area.

Oversized box dormers and large roof lights are also deemed to be inappropriate.

Fixtures such as satellite dishes or solar panels could also been seen to potentially have a detrimental effect on the streetscape.

Pennan resident Alistair Mackenzie attended the virtual meeting to make a case against the village being a conservation area.

He said: "I and many in Pennan do not think we need a conservation area or a plan.

"We don't want to look backwards and live in a museum, we want to look forward to a sustainable future.

"It is a stark reality that Pennan is likely to be much more threatened by the sea to the north and the cliff to the south than uPVC windows and TV aerials."

Council officers said the status was not up for review as part of the latest report.

They explained that a review would only be needed if an area no longer met national criteria for being protected, but Pennan still did.

And they believed Historic Environment Scotland would object to removing it.

After a lengthy debate, the committee members said they wanted a full conservation status review.

The council's head planner will attend the next meeting to answer questions.

Reporting by local democracy reporter Kirstie Topp.