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took place in the Dalmuir C.E. Centre to judge the strength of public opposition to the proposed downgrading of the land categorisation of Dalmuir Park, Dalmuir Golf Course and Auchentoshan Woods, Clydebank from Green Belt* to Public Open Space [Policy R1: Retention of Open Space]. These proposed changes appeared in the Final Draft of the West Dunbartonshire Local Plan. The Local Plan was out for public consultation until sixteenth [16] of November 2007 and recommendations and objections to the proposals were being invited.**
The Public Meeting, called by Parkhall, North Kilbowie & Central Community Council, was well attended. 139 people turned out to hear a Planning Officer explain, and try to justify, the proposed changes. His presentation was followed by one from the Community Council’s Planning Delegate who cogently argued the case why the “Western Wedge”, as the Park, Golf Course and woods are referred to in the Local Plan, should remain under the protection of Green Belt status. A lively question and answer session followed during which it quickly became obvious that there was unanimous opposition to the Council’s Planning Department proposals.
The meeting closed in complete agreement that individual written representations should be submitted to West Dunbartonshire Council Planning Department to make it abundantly clear that the majority of Clydebank residents are implacably opposed to any change to the Green Belt status of the Western Wedge.
It is estimated that 2500+ individual representations objecting to the changes to the Western Wedge Green Belt have been submitted***. Well Done, Clydebank !
Background Information
*Green Belt categorisation has a built-in protection in that any strong opposition to planning applications that may violate the green belt can be referred to the Reporter for the Scottish Parliament to make a final decision. Public Open Space status does not have this safeguard and therefore the Council become the ultimate decision makers. Public Open Space land also attracts the attention of property speculators, who regard these areas as future development opportunities.
**Every Local Authority must produce a Local Plan for their administrative area which categorises every acre of land and defines its usability. Every so often the Local Plan is reviewed and the WDC Planning Officers propose amending previously categorised areas of land from, for example, industrial to residential housing, or business to retail use. Before any changes can be made the Local Plan must go through a series of drafts, and consultation exercises. The West Dunbartonshire Local Plan 2007 – 2017 reached its final draft stage and was out for public consultation in October and November 2007 - closing on the 16th Nov. A Report was submitted to the Planning Committee by the Planning Officers on Tuesday 4th December - Report to Planning Committee Dec 2007
The two ‘Scottish Government’ references in this report refer to SPP 21 ‘Advice on Green Belt’ SPP 21 Advice on Green Belts and SPP 11 ‘Open Space & Physical Activity’ a NEW procedure, just introduced in mid November 2007, that DOES allow referral to Ministers in respect of Open Space SPP 11 Open Space & Physical Activity - but not as protective as under Green Belt requirements.
No. of objections according to WDC
***Following on from this period of public consultation, consideration will now be given to all responses made to the Plan and these will be again reported to the Council’s Planning Committee in April 2008 together with a list of modifications to the Plan. Report to Planning Committee April 2008 Proposed modifications The proposed modifications will also be published for further public consultation. Any unresolved objections to the Plan will then be considered at a Public Local Inquiry before a Reporter from the Scottish Government. This is to be held in mid November 2008.
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