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Clydebelt Newsletter and AGM Agenda 19th November 2013

13/11/2013

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The AGM of Clydebelt will be held in Trinity Church Hall Roman Road Duntocher 
at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 19th November.

Agenda
1. Apologies 
2. Minutes of last AGM 
3. Matters arising 
4. Secretary’s report 
5. Treasurer’s report 
6. Election of committee 
7. Current Issues-Local Plan 
8. Future Plans & Membership Fee 
9. A.O.C.B.
    ----< >---- 
Refreshments Tea, coffee, biscuits
   ----< >---- 
Talk by Paula Baker R.S.P.B Local RSPB Reserves

AGM time again and during the year the committee made the decision to remove from our large membership list all those who had not responded to the request to get in touch by email or send back the tear off strip on the last four AGM newsletters. 

It was also decided that at this AGM, a membership fee should be discussed and implemented. Perhaps this will further reduce our membership list but we are not prepared to hand deliver nor can we afford to post to disinterested or perhaps even deceased ‘members’.  Hopefully members will continue when we request Membership fees.

West Dunbartonshire Local Development Plan
About every five years local authorities bring out a revised local plan. The one now emerging is, more ominously, being called a Development Plan. These plans set many aspects of overall planning using guidelines and directives from central government. In particular is the designating of land into categories for use such as housing, industrial, retail, green space, green belt. Clydebelt has always examined the draft plans, which are produced for public consultation, in particular to see what changes are being proposed in removal of greenbelt or open space for housing. Once land is allocated for a specific purpose it is very difficult to prevent that development subsequently taking place. Hence if you have objection to the outline development on a piece of land the objection must be made at the formation of the plan and is unlikely to succeed if you only object when a specific application is submitted after the plan is in force. Representations on the new proposed plan must be submitted by November29th. Unresolved objections are adjudicated by a planner from the Scottish Government’s Reporters Department.

Of concern in Duntocher is the proposed removal of ‘Duntiglennan Fields’ from green belt. This was attempted at the current local plan consultation some five years ago. A builder wanted the greenbelt removed and local residents (and Clydebelt) were arguing for its retention. The reporter judged on the side of the residents. So what has changed? Last year the council put out a consultation document asking for comment on major issues including the removal of green belt from several sites including this one. Clydebelt tried to bring it to member’s attention at the time, but as mentioned above, most members had not bothered to get in touch with their contact details. Only three objections were received, including Clydebelt’s, and this has perhaps given the planners the impression there was little opposition and Duntiglennan was a site they could attempt to remove from green belt. Government directives have also changed and local authorities are being encouraged to stimulate the building industry and economy by release of green belt. Duntiglennan is being promoted for up to 100 houses. To see and comment on any aspect of the proposed local plan use this link, or go direct to the WDC website or see documents in the planning office at Rosebery Place and perhaps libraries. Deadline is 29th November. http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/planning-and-the-environment/planning-and-building-standards/local- development-planning/local-development-plan/#.Unq9FuLxA1I
Clydebelt will be making comment on this and other aspects of the proposed plan.

Sheep Hill
Nothing seems to have happened for almost a year. At a planning meeting last December, changes in the conditions of quarrying brought about by a Revision of Mineral Permissions (ROMP) were not agreed and deferred to a future meeting and subsequently delayed again. Clydebelt and others were trying to reverse the planning permission given in 1949 and re-approved in 2005, to remove Sheep Hill and its Iron Age fort, a listed ancient monument. We have written to Scottish Government planners and local MSPs but nothing seems to be happening.

Kilpatrick Hills Forest Design and Recreational Plans 
It’s not all bad news regarding the Kilpatricks. Forestry Commission Scotland are well on with their plans and have held a number of consultations to consider routes and access points for walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders. The aim is to try to keep everything as ‘low key’ as possible but still promote a ‘wilderness experience’ to the one million people who stay within about ten mile radius. Rumours that a timber extraction road might be made right across the Hills have been discounted. Timber from the plantations above Bowling and Milton will come out to the A82 via the Sheephill Quarry road at Dunglass roundabout. East and West Dunbartonshire Councils are proposing to designate the Kilpatrick Hills as a Local Landscape Area (LLA) in their respective Development Plans. This will help to manage change and the protection of the area’s special qualities. Along with SNH they have produced a draft ‘Statement of Importance’ identifying its extent, describing the landscape character, including those qualities identified as special and explaining the reasons for the designation.
http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/media/2589585/proposed_kilpatricks_hills_local_landscape_area_- _draft_statement_of_importance.pdf


Lang Craigs Woodland and Overtoun House
Access to the Woodland Trust’s new Lang Craigs woodland and walks on to the hills is easiest made from Overtoun House where there is a car park on the left near the gates. The house is let by the Council to an American Christian group for £1 per year. They originally asked for a 99 year lease. The local community council, Clydebelt and a few others went to court to try to stop this, but under threat of having to pay the Council’s court costs, if we lost the case, settled for a 35 year lease. The group is now advertising bed & breakfasts, wedding and conference facilities etc. They have to maintain and repair the property which like many WDC properties was badly neglected (Have a look at Balloch Castle!).

The possibility to have had an outdoor/heritage/activities/café/ranger centre etc.etc. perhaps associated with a regional country park like Muirshiel or Country Park like Mugdock has been lost. There is a café on Friday and Saturdays in winter 10.00-4.00. Worth a visit and walk round the grounds and Lang Craigs - one of the Kilpatricks finest walks. 


Merkins Wind Farm
At last this has come before the Planning Committee and turned out to be a bit of a cliff-hanger. The council planners were recommending refusal, perhaps due to strong objections from Scottish National Heritage, the National Park, Friends of Loch Lomond and many others. Only six councillors attended and one declared an interest and withdrew. Cllr. Agnew and Provost McAllister voted for refusal and put up good cases why it was against the planning regulations. Cllr. McColl and O’Neill voted for the application to be passed claiming it had little visual impact on the landscape and emphasising the benefits the developers might bestow on the local community. Our interpretation is that monetary or similar gain is no way to judge a planning application; it must first sit within the planning guidelines. Fortunately, with the casting vote Cllr.Gail Casey was firmly against. Clydebelt had also objected mainly on the grounds of visual effect of the turbines on the Kilpatrick Hills and views from and to the National Park. It was a test case, if passed it would be difficult to prevent similar wind farms all over the Kilpatricks. The developer will, no doubt, go to appeal.


Posties Park 
Objections to building on this have to be in by Nov. 14th See 
http://clydebeltblog.weebly.com/1/post/2013/10/posties-park-dumbarton-public-consultation.html


There is a Kilpatrick Hills section at Flickr  with some remarkable pictures.

If you have any interest in these topics or any other aspects of the Kilpatrick Hills and the environment of surrounding areas, please come along to the AGM, November 19th 7.30 Trinity Church Duntocher, member or not we will be glad of your support and are willing to listen to your concerns.
Please come and show your support and hear our speaker Paula Baker from the R.S.P.B

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Sheephill Quarry, Planning committee meeting 1st May 2013

28/5/2013

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Newsletter January 2013

10/1/2013

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Sheephill Quarry - letter to Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

7/9/2012

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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.]

Read More
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Clydebelt Newsletter August 2012

7/9/2012

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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:scotland@woodlandtrust.org.uk
                    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  rangers@mugdock.org 
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
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Sheephill Quarry pamphlet

6/9/2012

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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).
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Stop the removal of Sheephill

21/6/2012

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Clydebelt supports the efforts of the North Bank Environmental Group in their fight against the removal of Sheephill and its Iron Age vitrified fort above the Dunglass roundabout.

Read more for a letter from Clydebelt sent on 19th June 2012.

Read More
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Clydebelt's response to Local Development Plan

18/6/2012

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The West Dunbartonshire Council's Local Development Plan covers Clydebank, Dumbarton, Old Kilpatrick, Dalmuir, Parkhall, Duntocher, Hardgate, Faifley, Gartocharn, Jamestown, Bonhill, Bellsmyre, Silverton, Milton and Bowling, and issues such as housing, access, conservation, planning, environment, greenbelt, community, regeneration, archaeology, wildlife, habitats, landscape, wind farms and supermarkets. It includes a National Park and a Regional Scenic Area

(Other plans cover Milngavie, Bearsden, Glasgow, Drumchapel, Craigton, Carbeth, Croftamie, Mugdock and Blanefield).



Read more for Clydebelt's comments on the recent consultation about the Main Issues, which is the first stage in producing a new plan.

Read More
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