900+ Objections to the Braidbar Quarry proposals

East Renfrewshire Council have received over a massive 900 objections against the proposals to develop Braidbar Quarry the Eastwood Extra reports. Click here for Article

This is almost double the target set by the Hands Of Huntly Action Group and shows the strength of feeling in the area.

A council spokesman responded: “With any proposal of this magnitude we would expect a large response; this will be taken into account when the issue goes to the planning committee for determination”.

Huntly park – Closed for 2 Years to develop Braidbar Quarry

Giffnock is up in arms over proposals to shut the popular Huntly Park for
two years.

MacDonald Estates wants to build 178 homes on the adjoining Braidbar Quarry,
much of which is currently unsuitable for development because of a century
of mining.

The engineering works needed to remediate the land would see one of the
biggest engineering projects ever undertaken in the west of Scotland.
Almost a million tonnes of water would have to be removed and stored in two
giant lagoons near the bottom of Huntly Park.

Then millions of tonnes of earth would be excavated from the Quarry and the
Park and buried underground to fill the voids.

There would be 12 months of 24-hours-a-day pumping followed by 24 months of
excavation, reverse-mining and finally construction.

Meanwhile, the habitats of badgers and bats would be lost and thousands of
trees cut down.

Following a successful campaign of opposition by HOHAG (Hands Off Huntly
Action Group), East Renfrewshire Council has been snowed under with
objections to the plans.

Local mum Elaine Boyes said:”My kids have played here all their life. Why
should we lose this amazing asset on our doorstep?”

You, too, can join the campaign.

A sample letter of objection is shown below. You have until the end of June to lodge it by email (including your address at the top and name at the
bottom) to pamela.reid@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk or by post to

Environment Dept,
Roads Planning and Transportation Service,
East renfrewshire Council
Rouken Glen Road,
Giffnock
G46 6UG

 

Dear Sir / Madam,                                                                    

 

Planning applications 2008/0339/TP and 2008/0350/TP

Braidbar Quarries

 

I wish to object to the two planning applications above, for the following reasons:

 

1. The applications run counter to the East Renfrewshire Council Local Plan.  The most recent Local Plan opens with the words ”The protection and enhancement of the environment is a fundamental principle upon which the Local Plan is founded.”   Even in the council’s Replacement Local Plan Consultation Document says on its very first page ”The built-up area of East Renfrewshire generally offers a good quality urban environment and whilst it is predominantly residential, there are concentrations of other uses.  This is a network of important local urban green spaces, comprised of playing fields, woodland, formal and informal parks along with amenity open spaces.  These contribute positively to local amenity and the quality of life for residents.”The council must defend its Local Plan by rejecting proposals which would adversely affect an area equivalent to the currently built-up area known as Giffnock.The proposals are not catered for within the current zoning for the area.  Much of the affected site is variously listed as “Sites of Special Scientific Interest” and” Tree Preservation Order areas”.
2. Wildlife.  The applicants’ weighty submission contains the admission that a survey has shown that Badger activity has “increased” on the site since a previous study had been carried out.  There is evidence of significant numbers of setts in an area due to be obliterated under these proposals.  Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which makes it an offence to “kill, injure, take or possess badgers; to damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place that a badger uses for shelter or protection; or to disturb a badger whilst it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for shelter or protection.  The applicants’ report concedes that to proceed without consent from Scottish Natural Heritage “could potentially constitute an offence.” The area in question is used by thousands of local people.  We enjoy the fact that such an area of woodland beauty is on our doorstep.  There are bats and breeding birds using the site and – as many locals will testify – foxes as well.  This beautiful natural habitat would be lost forever under the current proposals.
3. Environment and visual impact.  The applicants own submission carries the admission that the housing development and associated engineering works will have a devastating impact on the local environment.  It states ”Severe adverse visual impact will accrue to people in Forres Avenue and to properties south of Braidpark Drive.  It goes on ”Substantial adverse visual impact will accrue to people in Keith Avenue and Braidpark Drive”.  Quite what it will do to the bottom half of the site (nearest the rail line at the bottom of Huntly Park) is anyone’s guess.  The ground level would drop by five metres, having been raided for its soil.  It will have lost all its trees in the process and, sitting at such an unnaturally low level, could become a dirty reservoir.  The proposals are very unclear on this point, merely referring to “Remediated Land”.  But it takes up half of the total site.  However, the applicants’ Environmental Impact Statement admits ”The development will lead to a degradation of the current landscape, such as loss of woodland cover and vegetation.”  It also concedes the work will result in “significant alteration in the local landscape character and in-view from settlement areas which overlook the site.”
4. Inconvenience and disruption during works.  The applicants admit it will take 12 months of 24-hour pumping to remove the 800,000m3 of water from the Quarries.  Then the 24 months of noisy mining and construction.  Why should we have to suffer this level of disruption to our lives for a proposal we don’t want?
5. Loss of Amenity.  Access to Huntly Park and the site would be lost for two years (while it is closed off).  This is totally unacceptable.  Where are local children to play or dog walkers walk their dogs?   Fifty per cent of the football pitches currently served by Huntly Pavilion would be lost for good.  There is no alternative open space for miles around.  The applicants admit ”During remediation and construction, access to Huntly Park will be….temporarily prohibited.  This is considered to be an adverse effect of the development.”
6. Traffic impact.  It is estimated that there will be 378 people occupying the new housing development once it is completed.  If they run true to form for the local area, you can expect at least 200 of them will have cars.  The current area at Braidholm Road next to the police station is already a bottleneck.  Add to that the increase in traffic generated by the new Morrison’s supermarket round the corner and you have a recipe for gridlock; the road network is simply not designed to cope with this increase in traffic.

 

 

Summary: “The protection and enhancement of the environment is a fundamental principle upon which the Local Plan is founded.”  Such words from the council must mean something.  I understand that East Ren wants to tackle the problem of ground instability at Braidbar Quarries but the proposed development is a very big hammer to crack the nut in question.  We would lose a huge natural woodland area, teeming with wildlife, flora and fauna, which is enjoyed by the local population.  Proximity to such sites is one of the reasons people live in the area, a fact recognised by the council in its own Local Plan.  Even the Replacement Local Plan Consultation Document, under the heading “Protecting the Environment” states:”The council is committed to protecting and enhancing the natural environment and have identified numerous sites of importance for nature conservation.”  Some of these sites sit at the heart of this proposal.  It’s time for the council to show it means what it says….and reject these proposals.

 

 

Yours Faithfully,