306 MARCH 20 – Gryffe Advertizer

e: info@advertizer.co.uk | t: 01505 613340 March 2020
Lochwinnoch Green Belt Fight Goes On
The submission of planning application by Stewart Milne housebuilders
for 122 homes on Green-belt land on the perimeter of the
village in November, has motivated Lochwinnoch residents to renew
their campaign with extra intensity to oppose this development.
The campaign against the proposal in the 13 week consultation
on the Renfrewshire Council’s Local Development Plan (2019) to a
change the site from previous Green Belt status to a site intended
for new housing, resulted in 883 objections. The Council declined
to change the Plan, before submission to Scottish Government,
but noted the objections and referred the decision to Scottish
Government.
Subsequent submission of a formal Planning Application has
required a new campaign for objections, including use of local
social media. This resulted in distribution of nearly 2,000 leaflets
summarizing objections inserted in Chatterbox, in collection
boxes at the main public gathering, places, and house to house
distribution throughout the village, inviting further objections.
Renfrewshire Council have agreed to extend the deadline for
objections until the end of March awaiting decision the Local
Development Plan.
Objections to the Planning Application sent to Renfrewshire Council,
together with objections sent direct by E-mail, already exceed 500.
The new appointed Community Council being inaugurated on 4th
February will now also have the opportunity of making an official
objection, adding to the response from the Community.
Lochwinnoch is being targeted for large scale new house
development after multiple applications have been unsuccessful
in the past two years on other Green-belt areas around Bridge of
Weir, Brookfield and Kilbarchan.
While initial outline plans for the Burnfoot Road site and supporting
investigations and surveys claim to show that the development of
the site in isolation is effective and deliverable, the village objection
campaign is based on its detrimental effects on the wider village
infrastructure, local flooding issues outside the site itself, and
additional risk to public health and recreational use of Castle
Semple Loch.
The type of housing proposed with 80% four five and six bedrooms
is judged to be “ The Wrong Type in the Wrong Place” extending
Urban Sprawl to Conservation Village of Lochwinnoch, while there
are several alternative brown-field sites and vacant land within the
village.
Friends Of Howwood Park
‘Friends of Howwood Park’ now has a
Facebook page. To follow us, please find
and like the page, and you will be kept up
to date with what’s going on at Howwood
Park.
At the moment, posts will mainly be in
relation to the installation of new equipment
and physical upgrading works at the park.
However, in the future, we hope to post
details of classes and events which will be
on at the park.
The park is being upgraded. To date, new play equipment, football
goals and a new perimeter path have been installed, existing paths
have been upgraded, fencing has been renewed, drainage has been
improved and new picnic tables have been installed.
The next phase of work will include the installation of 2 skateboard/
scooter ramps - namely a Quarter Pipe (image below) and a Fun
Box (image below) - and the installation of an outdoor gym. We
anticipate these will be installed around the end of March. This work
is being funded by Renfrewshire Councils Green Spaces, Parks and
Play Areas Fund, and LEADER Renfrewshire.
Howwood Women’s Institute
Tuesday 17th March in Howwood Village Hall at 7.30pm
Meal Out - Details later
Anyone wanting to come along to join our meetings is very
welcome.
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