Demonstration on 11th April was very well attended

LETTER TO THE HERALD

Wednesday, 25 March 2015

The Editor

Kirkintilloch Herald

Dear Sir,

MILTON OF CAMPSIE GREENBELT PRESERVATION

Professor Michael Pacione, an acknowledged authority in the field of urban quality of life research, is right to point to the disjuncture between planning principles and practice in East Dunbartonshire and the impact that setting aside the Council’s own principle of sustainable development has on sites such as Redmoss Farm in Milton of Campsie. (Letters 18 March 2015).

Whilst welcoming the consultants’ recommendation that the larger south site at Redmoss should not be developed due to its high value for nature conservation and its consequent removal from the Proposed Plan housing strategy, at the 22nd January Council Meeting; the suspicion remains that the developers indication of an estimated capacity of 80 units for the north site is more than were included in the original 190 total units.

Of greater concern is that all 80 units will be so-called affordable housing. 100% affordable housing does not fit with the Council’s own policy of creating mixed communities. As Professor Pacione mentions, if the Council had followed its guidelines for 25% affordable housing at Woodilee, twice that number of houses would already have been built. Furthermore, by reverse application of the rule the developer may be able to build 100% market housing on the rest of the site in future.

Why should Milton of Campsie take almost 25% of the new affordable housing in East Dunbartonshire, when other sites are taking none at all and there is more than ample land available on brownfield sites such as Lillyburn Works, Eastside, Townhead, Whitegates, Baldoran House, Broomhill Hospital, Milton Road, Tom Johnstone House, Hilton Depot, the former Bishopbriggs High School and Switchgear?

Milton of Campsie residents welcomed support from Cllr Ritchie, the entire SNP group and Independent Cllr Young, when this matter was debated at the Council Meeting on 22nd January but it was extremely disappointing once again to find two of our local Councillors, Dempsey and Welsh toeing the Labour Party line in the face of overwhelming local objections to the proposals.

The proposal for Redmoss Farm will be included in the Proposed Local Development Plan (LDP) which is due for publication in April and will be followed by an 8 week consultation period.

Anyone who wishes to join the fight to preserve our greenbelt may contact me by emailing secretary@mocgreenbelt.org.

Alan Harris

Secretary

MOC GREENBELT PRESERVATION

COUNTRYSIDE RANGERS WILDLIFE EVENT ON REDMOSS

Advertised EVENT:

Minibeasts of Redmoss, Milton of Campsie

Tuesday 29 July 2pm - 4pm

Grasshoppers, froghoppers, beetles and slugs live in grasslands and where better to look than Redmoss?

To join in the hunt meet the Ranger at the far end of Redmoss Road, Milton of Campsie.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Countryside Ranger Service

Who are we?

The Ranger Service is based here at Mugdock Country Park. We lead outdoor learning and environmental activities in the Park’s 260 hectares and also throughout the whole of East Dunbartonshire and Stirling.

Our team is made of up four full time Countryside Rangers. Maggie Ferguson is the Senior Countryside Ranger. Fiona Burns covers Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch and Lenzie. Alan McBride looks after Bearsden, Milngavie, Baldernock and Bardowie. Stuart Macfarlane’s area includes Lennoxtown, Milton of Campsie, Torrance and Twechar.

We work in partnership with East Dunbartonshire and Stirling Councils' Access, Greenspace and Biodiversity Officers

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