MSP Rona Mackay is appealing to the Minister for Local Government and Housing to stop a development going forward in face of huge local opposition.
Earlier this month (February), CALA Homes was granted permission by the Independent Planning Reporter to build 135 homes on the canal site Jellyhill in Bishopbriggs following an appeal.
The plans had been unanimously rejected by East Dunbartonshire Council’s planning board and received 569 rejections from the public over the last year, sparking the appeal process.
Now, Ms Mackay is appealing to Kevin Stewart MSP, the Minister for Housing and Infrastructure to get behind the local community and block the development.
She said: “This decision by the planning reporter runs a coach and horses through local democracy – and it must be stopped.
“I am appealing directly to the Minister to back the Council and hundreds of local people who want to keep this land at Jellyhill protected.
“The overdevelopment of the site, the potential traffic issues, and the impact that this development will have on the setting of the Forth and Clyde Canal are huge concerns to me and local people.
“There are other effects as well that are so important – the ongoing destruction of our precious green belt and the implications this has for local wildlife.
“On the whole, the planning appeals system needs to be re-examined, particularly light of this case where the views of the community were very apparent but ignored.”
ENDS