New Year greetings to all members.  This first New Year message is a bit like the New Year epistle from the Rev. I.A.M. Jolly (the late Rikki Fulton) with his annual contribution to the BBC Hogmanay TV show; depressing news. The reason is the publishing of the Scottish Government’s report on the new West Dunbartonshire Development Plan.

West Dunbartonshire Local Development Plan
This was submitted to the Scottish Ministers for examination and their Report has recently been tabled, with some recommendations that give cause for despondency.  Their recommendations on four of the sites discussed are summarised below – Duntiglennan Fields, housing at Bowling along the south side of the Canal, the proposed new canal to Loch Lomond, and Young’s Farm in Dumbarton.    
                                       
In all, this new style consultation for the local plan has been a great disappointment, with non-resident council planners, and reporters, not moving their stance in response to almost any of the public’s suggestions. They only seem to listen to the non-elected quangos like SNH and SEPA. So much for local democracy and listening to people born and brought up in the district.  It seems planners and perhaps the council officials think they know it all and local opinion is only asked for so that they can tick the box for a public consultation. This now seems the norm in all such local authority consultation exercises (some now called charrettes).   Are we wasting our time at these ‘consultations’ as decisions seem to have already been made before the event?  (See charrette article below). Clydebelt spent a lot of time commenting on several sections of the consultation draft and thought we might have been listened to in at least one section, when along with many others, we thought we might have reversed the proposal to remove the green belt at Duntiglennan.                       
                                                                                                                             
If you would like to see their comments in full on the twenty-five ‘issues’ they considered, a copy is available for public viewing in the Planning & Building Standards, at the Council’s offices at Rosebery Place, Clydebank and Garshake Dumbarton,  libraries and also on the council’s website.  http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council/strategies,-plans-and-policies/localdevelopment-planning/local-development-plan/
Also on the DPEA website:  the link is: 
http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDetails.aspx?id=115165
Perhaps quicker to send us an email and we can forward it as a PDF attachment.

Duntiglennan Fields (p.146-162 of their Report).
 ‘Duntiglennan Fields’ have been reinstated back to the Plan as being a site suitable for housing (up to 100 houses), and removing from green belt This means that a housing application will almost certainly be submitted soon and even should the planning committee refuse, it would only go to appeal to the Reporters Unit who have just recommended the area for housing, making it most unlikely that the councillors would risk the costs of an appeal!

Bowling Harbour (PP 60 – 66)   
Primarily with reference to proposed housing development along the south side of the canal, to the east of the basin.   The Reporter did not accept the proposed modifications, but instead “considered that the strategy for mixed use development at Bowling Basin is appropriate in order to enhance this gateway location on the Canal network, increase visitors and economic activity, enhance the green network, and provide a range and choice of housing in West Dunbartonshire” – in other words, gave the green light to housing development on the South side of the canal.

Young’s Farm, Dumbarton (PP 81 – 90)   
The Reporters have also approved the Council’s proposal to allow the Dumbarton Football Club’s proposed new pitch and other developments on green belt at Young’s Farm.  This is along the Leven between Dalreoch and Renton. Amazingly they do not consider this a change from green belt – we do wonder how a football pitch, its considerable  associated buildings, training ground and the parking areas, can constitute green belt usage.

Proposed Lomond Canal alongside the River Leven to Loch Lomond.  (PP. 67 – 72)
The Reporter has supported the principle of further investigation of the proposed canal.  Clydebelt wrote strongly against this proposed Canal, but again it seems that any arguments given were overlooked entirely.

Other news

WDC ‘Office rationalisation’ of Council buildings, Clydebank
 In Clydebank the main proposal is to demolish/sell off the purpose-built and Council-owned offices at Rosebery Place, and to move staff to a smaller office building next to Clydebank College which was built ‘on spec’ for letting by the now defunct Clydebank ReBuilt. We understand that most staff will not have their own desks and so would be ‘hot desking’ or alternatively working from home!  There would be little space for public visiting which instead would be done at a ‘One Stop Shop’ in the shopping centre, or by appointment.  Offices for Councillors would be arranged in the upper floor of Clydebank Town Hall.

 PUBLIC MEETING 1 -  CLYDEBANK TOWN CENTRE:
DESIGN CHARRETTE
11th -14th February   
“The Scottish Government has selected Clydebank town centre for a major locally driven design charrette….. the fundamental aim is to involve local residents, business and stakeholders in planning the future of the town centre. A charrette is an intensive consultation that engages local people in the design of their community……..Planning and design workshops will be held in the Clydebank Town Hall over a four day period running from the 11th -14th February when the public, designers and specialists will be working together, ‘hands on’, to prepare a long term vision, development framework and action plan for Clydebank Town Centre with the ideas translated into plans and drawings….”
  The rest of this BRIEFING NOTE 1: 5 January 2015 is on the WDC website.

Sounds good, chance at last to have your say and be listened to, but many of us have been through all this already for other locations and seen almost nothing happen in response to our input.

Clydebank Re-built went through exactly the same procedures 10 years ago except their consultations were long and many.  All the public’s, planners and, council officials suggestions were noted but little of it materialised.  Tons of paper were used in News bulletins, summaries, reports, design forums, pamphlets and leaflets, etc. A reputed £54 million later what have we got?  Not a lot for that kind of money and very little was from ideas put by the public who attended many meetings and ‘Design Forums’.  Is there just a glimmer of hope that some of these unfulfilled aspirations will reappear and be acted upon through this charrette?

Some of us thought with the potential for new build at Queens Quay, the area around the Town Hall could be revitalised with the opportunity for a new civic building, and a proper traditional town square to the south and leading to the river. However our planners and now government reporters say the Shopping Centre is Clydebank Town Centre and the Town Hall and Queen’s Quay are on the wrong side of  Dumbarton Road. (Local Development Plan Report p. 17 Para.13) Can we assume that the above charrette will not then discuss the possibilities for the area around the Town Hall or Queen’s Quay, planning proposals for which are being shown separately (See Public Meeting 2 below). Shopping centres, supermarkets, and money making are obviously much more important than civic buildings and community facilities for the public or even to give the town the proper overall planning which has been badly needed since the Clydebank Blitz.        

However what is really galling is that apparently it was the Scottish Government who refused WDC consent to borrow the money to buy the Queens Quay site when it was offered at a reduced price in the first place.  If it had been Council-owned we might have had some say as to proper planning and control of the site.

Is this really a concern for Clydebelt? Maybe not, but when plans were submitted for 1600 homes at Queens Quay we objected that there was not nearly enough open space provision according to planning guidelines. We were ignored
and the plans were passed, but fell through when the housing bubble burst.  Every Clydebank resident should attend and make their views heard as forcibly as possible, there’s just a glimmer of a chance that someone might listen.


PUBLIC MEETING 2 - PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT QUEEN’S QUAY PUBLIC EXHIBITION 
Thursday 22nd Jan 1.00 -8.00 pm Cunard suite Clydebank College.
Hard on the heels of hearing about the above charrette, the Clydebank Post published notice of the above on Wed 14th January, inviting you to view and comment on this proposed development which includes housing, retail, financial, office, public house, hotel, care home, health centre and associated parking. Obviously a very major development and worthy of much more discussion than is being offered. It could completely reshape Clydebank as we know it and should be part of the Scottish Government charrette above.  But is it –have we no joined up thinking or planning?

Go to this one as well and see what you think of the proposals for this new large area of Clydebank and riverside that we have never had access to before.


PUBLIC MEETING 3  - OLD KILPATRICK 
Wed. 21st January (19.30-21.00) Napier Hall
 
This meeting is being organised by Old Kilpatrick Community Council

Do you live in Old Kilpatrick? Are you interested in your village?     Do you think it could be improved?
Have you got any ideas how it can be made better?
Why not come along to a Public Meeting to listen to and share your ideas with others on relevant issues such as:  Lusset Glen, Station Building,  Antonine Wall, Napier Hall, St Patrick’s Well, The Saltings.

PUBLIC  CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE OF LAND REFORM IN SCOTLAND
Comments to close on 10th February
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0046/00464887.pdf  
The Scottish Government has made proposals for a new Land Reform Act. Their recommendations and  explanations can be seen at the above link. There are 64 consultation questions which are discussed in the text and then presented for comment. The Bill, to change the present Land Reform Act, should be submitted next year after all consultations and discussion have been finalised.                            
                                                                              
This is an extremely important piece of legislation and everyone should make comment on at least some of the questions asked. The Bill is concerned with  Land Registry & Ownership, Community Ownership  Management and Right to Buy, Public Access, Nature Conservation, Crofting and Agricultural Reform, Land Taxes, better Deer Management , etc. etc.

Please take time to read it and respond to the questionnaire, it can only help to create a better and hopefully, a more equal Scotland.


John Muir Way path extension through Kilpatrick Hills gets funding
Funding has been secured to develop a five kilometre path extension to the John Muir Way that will take walkers and cyclists up on to the Kilpatrick Hills.

Partners, Sportscotland, Scottish National Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland have funded the £492,000 project to provide an upland and wilderness section to the 134 mile coast to coast route from Helensburgh to Dunbar.
The new path extension will provide an alternative to the Balloch to Carbeth section of the John Muir Way which runs on a public road and footpath.  This alternative route will go from Merkins, to Burncrooks Reservoir and Carbeth.

There will be approximately 7km of new trail and the upgrading of about 2km of existing forest road.  The new trail, nominally 2m wide for walker, mountain bike and horse riding use, will be constructed across coniferous woodland, plantation, open moorland and agricultural land.  The works also require the crossing of various watercourses and implementation of a robust drainage scheme along the entire length of the route. Priority will be given to constructing the path with minimal visual and environmental impact on the surrounding landscape. 

Riggangour Landfill
Further to paragraph in the last newsletter about permission being given for further working at this landfill site on the Milton to the Black Linn or to Loch Humphrey via Greenlands track at Sheep Hill Quarry, the council have imposed the following conditions:-
The operating hours of the landfill site including the dispatch of aggregates shall be between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 1pm on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays or Public Holidays, Only emergency works, water pumping, servicing or maintenance of plant are permitted to take place outside the permitted hours of operation.  Notwithstanding the submitted details, the final restoration details for the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority prior to the commencement of the approved operations on site. These details shall include a restoration masterplan which demonstrates how the site will be restored on a phased basis unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Planning Authority.

Fancy a quick walk?
This easy walk starts at the car park off Cochno Road at Auchnacraig/Edinbarnet, and it can be done in about an hour.  It has few steep sections.  Starting from the car park (near G81 5QR) go back onto Cochno Road and through the gate signed to Cochno Farm which leads to Cochno House and  the Glasgow Veterinary School Farm. On the right, about 100 yds. into Cochno Estate you can see a waterfall in the Cochno Burn which once had an overhead pipe powering a waterwheel for a sawmill. The stone base for the wheel can still be seen.                   If more time is available it is possible to follow the Cochno Burn up to see Lady’s Linn and, among the rhododendrons, about 200 yds. to the north, the small graveyard built for the last of the Hamilton family to reside at Cochno House. After the graveyard you need to turn back down to the main drive.                                                            

From the drive the track is marked on the right through a gate into farmland alongside a wood and is goes through several gates, passing Glasgow University Observatory across the fields to the left.  Then you pass through the last gate on to the hill which has been planted recently as community woodland by the Forestry Commission. Parts about here can be boggy before reaching the Gray Mare’s Tail, a waterfall on the Cochno Burn just below the Jaw Reservoir. This is Core Path 92 and was known as the Fishermen’s Path as it leads to the anglers hut at Cochno Loch. At this point,** for the short walk go east along the dam and turn right into the field to walk to the south of Muirhouses Farm, looking out for a sign post and direction post on the left. On reaching the road turn right and it’s all downhill from here (core path 91). Passing the old Edinbarnet Kennels cottage look out for a path into the wood on the right and follow this into Edinbarnet. Edinbarnet House, now a nursing home, can be seen on the right. Our path forks downhill to the left to a bridge and path back to the car park.
 Believe it or not, the story goes that Clydebank Burgh bought this beautiful glen about 60 years ago with the intention of piping the burn, felling the trees and using the site as the burgh coup.(refuse dump) Walk it in early May, see and smell the bluebells.

  **For a longer walk, you would at this point go west along Cochnohill, past Jaw Reservoir and Cochno Loch and back down the Loch Humphrey Burn road to Cochno Road and turn left back to the car park or straight down to Hardgate.  

Clydebelt Membership
We have made constant reminders over the last few years that we needed to update our membership lists and acquire some cash to continue and at the 2013 AGM it was agreed that a one off renewal fee of £5 per household should be paid. Disappointingly about half our ‘members’ have not responded and we can only assume they are no longer interested. Even more disappointing is that several were founding and/or committee members. Thanks to all those continuing members who have responded especially those who kindly gave donations. 

Next Clydebelt Meeting   
Tuesday 20th January 7.00 in Trinity Church Hall, Roman Road, Duntocher – all welcome.