Click on Read More (below right) for the text of a letter to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman from the Chairman of the North Bank Environmental Group about the processes that led to permission for Sheephill Quarry. 

[The NEBG's A4 pamphlet about the quarry issue can be downloaded from here.]

Save Sheep Hill
Don’t know where Sheep Hill is? Well you certainly must have noticed the distinctive flat topped hill above the Dunglass roundabout west of Bowling. On the summit is the site of a scheduled ancient monument- an Iron Age vitrified fort, the woods to the side are supposed to be protected by a WDC Tree Preservation Order (TPO) 1975 and most of the area is designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation(SINC). The area is part of the Kilpatrick Hills Regional Scenic Area and the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan especially mentioned that the South-west facing slopes of the hills should be free from further quarrying. 

Despite all this the hill may be removed in the near future by quarrying! Permission was first given, on appeal, by the Scottish Office in 1949. Attempts to have the quarry owners, Wm.Thompson & Son, exchange Sheep Hill itself for an extension to the North-east failed, although a similar exchange of ground with quarrying consent, immediately adjacent to housing on Milton Hill, for a North-west extension was agreed. Historic Scotland in the face of a possible claim for financial compensation, removed the Scheduling from the Fort that would have prevented any quarrying as permission to which had been given in 1949.       

The North Bank Environment Group are staging a last ditch campaign to have the removal of the hill stopped. They claim that only intervention by the Scottish Government can save Sheep Hill; and they have printed a leaflet giving a Government website which invites individuals to protest against issues they feel about strongly.  Please go there to register your  ‘Save Sheep Hill’ appeal.    
                  
Receipt of the letter we sent to WDC Chief Executive Joyce White, supporting the NBEG was not acknowledged and a follow up achieved a reply that the letter had been received and passed to Jim McAloon, Head of Housing and Regeneration for his information. In reply to a letter from the NBEG, Mr McAloon had previously stated that the Revision of old Mineral Permissions (ROMP) the council ‘was minded-to –approve’ in 2005 for the Quarry, removing Sheep Hill itself, under new working conditions, an [‘approval’] which
“The Council has continued to progress due to the benefits that the ROMP will bring  to the local community and area. It will allow [Sic] the quarry to work under modern working conditions, regarding operating and blasting hours with wider environmental and landscape benefits”.           

We fail to see how the removal of, part of a wooded slope under a tree protection order, a hill with a Scheduled Ancient Fort, a Local (WDC) designated Site of Nature Conservation and a prominent feature of our landscape, all to be replaced with a gaping hole in the hillside, can in any way be termed “wider benefits”.  If you feel strongly about this contact your councillors and/or MSP. Contacting officials in WDC at this stage would appear to be a fruitless waste of time. The NBEG are taking the issue to the Scottish Public Service (SPS) ombudsman.
                                                       
Sewage in Duntocher Burn
Recent contamination of the burn seems to have originated at the Roman Bridge in Duntocher. Scottish Water are now by-passing the bridge with a replacement pipe beside the pedestrian bridge downstream. An email was sent to the West of Scotland Archaeological Society asking that the remains of the Duntocher Corn mill and Forge as well as any Roman remains should be looked for during any excavations. We got no acknowledgement. 

The Great Outdoors Festival 1st – 8th September                                    
Up and around the Campsies, Kilpatricks and Trossachs.
  The programme for these events by Stirlingshire, West and East Dunbartonshire Councils, has been published and available in libraries and other public places. Online copies can be seen at   HYPERLINK "http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/outdoorsfestival" \o "blocked::http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/outdoorsfestival" www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/outdoorsfestival
With particular relevance to the Kilpatrick Hills and surroundings are 
Sun 2nd       19. Dumbarton Foreshore- Geology, Birds and Battles
Tues 4th      27. Gavinburn and Loch Humphrey Hike
Wed. 5th      30. Why, Where and What’s the Whangie?
Sat.   8th      40.  Lang Craigs Circular Path Walk
                    44. Lang Craigs Community Tree Planting Festival
  This event is the first tree planting at the Woodland Trust’s new Lang Craigs woodland at Maryland Farm with the launch ceremony at 11.00 free refreshments, live music, guided walks. Shuttle bus from WDC car park at Garshake from 10.15. The event area is near Overtoun House
Contact 01738 635829 or  email to:[email protected]
                    45. Antonine Wall Wander 
  A walk along the line of the World Heritage Roman Wall, from its most Western point in Europe at Old Kilpatrick fort, to the forts at Duntocher and Castlehill. Minibus return to Old Kilpatrick Contact 0141 956 6586 or mail to  [email protected] 
Other events recommended from personal experience are the Kelvin Canoe Paddle and the Trees of the World in Balloch Park but look at the programme –there’s something for everyone.

Dalmuir Park Restoration Project Community Day 
Sat 1st Sept. 12.00- 4.00pm
Activities include Archery, pony rides, crazy golf, face painting, hook the duck, kiddie’s rides, 
Information stall, barbeque, nature quiz and much more. Information from Community Engagement Officer Sandra Anton 0141 952 6074

Saltings Litter-Pick Sunday 2nd September 10.00am- 2pm.
Started after the gale in January, this has become a monthly event on the first Sunday of the month. Litter is continually washed up by the wind and tide as well being deposited by the usual means. Come along and help keep West Dunbartonshire’s only Local Nature Reserve clean. Meet in the car park off Erskine Ferry Road at 10.00am or down by river whenever you can come. 

Next Clydebelt meeting is on Sept 16th 7.30pm. Trinity Church, Roman Road, Hardgate

The North Bank Environmental Group has produced an A4 pamphlet about the quarry issue, which can be seen or downloaded from here (an 18.5MB file).

Also below are lower-resolution images of the pamphlet (download for viewing or just zoom in to increase the web page magnification).