Copyright © All rights reserved TorranceWeb.info.
News
Green Belt under fresh attack.
Geddes Consulting have submitted 6 objections to East Dunbartonshire’s Local Plan 2. The nature of the objections are aimed at removing the Green Belt protection which the village of Torrance currently enjoys. If building is allowed on any part, the flood gates will be opened on all our Green Belt.
East Dunbartonshire Council began a public consultation process on Monday 06 December 2010 on the proposed development of land adjacent to Kelvin View, Torrance. This land currently enjoys protection from development by it’s Green Belt designation. East Dunbartonshire Council have stated that this Green Belt protection should remain in place for Torrance (Proposed Local Plan 2, 2010). However, in line with legislation, the Council are obliged to consider all appropriate opinions, both for and against this plan.
Geddes, on behalf of Hendersons Surveyors, have lodged notification of complaint about the Green Belt protection for Torrance. Their complaint is centred around the Green Belt protection being ‘...too tightly drawn against the urban edge of Torrance.’ and as such it inhibits any future growth of the village. The site they are proposing to develop would be capable of accommodating 30 affordable houses.
Closer inspection of the proposed Local Plan 2 clearly shows the area as not only being Green Belt, but also being within the ‘Antonine Wall World Heritage Site Buffer Zone’. The site of the old Roman Antonine Wall was awarded World Heritage status on July 7, 2008 placing it along side other World Heritage sites such as, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Acropolis in Greece.
The date for submissions has now past and no more submissions will be accepted. From what we know, there have been about 640 objections received collectively for all sites. We do not know how many of these relate to the Torrance site. Encouragingly, all Councillors and EDC have expressed there opposition to this review and David Whitton MSP also sent a letter to the Reporter emphasising the feeling among residents.
Update 25 March 2011 - East Dunbartoshire Planning Department received a total of 628 responses. This number is the collective total for all sites. The Kelvin View site at Torrance (not Kirkintilloch as Jo Swinson MP reported) received 118 responses. Of this 118, there were 117 responses in favour of retaining the Green Belt and one against.
This page will be updated as more information becomes available, so keep visiting.
More Info.
