Greer Backs Council over Milngavie flood risk dispute
Local Green MSP Ross Greer has backed East Dunbartonshire Council after a housing developer challenged the council’s flood risk assessment on a greenbelt site near Milngavie.
Ross was contacted by a number of concerned Milngavie and Bearsden residents, including the Mains Estate Residents Association, after the council was asked to respond to questions from Scottish Government officials regarding a number of potential housing sites. While such questions are a routine matter, intended to help government officials assess whether the council’s Local Development Plan has properly taken account of available evidence, in the case of one site the reporter appeared to be inviting the council to abandon their own longstanding flood risk assessment.
The site in question is at Old Mains Farm in Milngavie, which is designated in the council’s Local Development Plan 2 as inappropriate for development due to flooding risk. This designation has been questioned by private housing developer Cala Homes and it appears that the government officials tasked with assessing the Plan are now echoing Cala’s objections.
Ross Greer has written to the council to confirm his strong support for the current designation and his opposition to any change which would open Old Mains Farm up to potential housing developments. In response, East Dunbartonshire Council have confirmed that they will be sticking with their own assessment. Greer has offered to support the council in defending this position.
Ross commented:
“Cala have a clear conflict of interest here, so their ‘assessment’ of the flood risk certainly should not be what guides the officials evaluating our Local Development Plan.
The LDP2 was approved by local elected councillors, is effective at protecting greenbelt land and already ensures that there is adequate provision to meet local housing and infrastructure needs. There is simply no compelling case for development of sites such as Old Mains Farm. Cala’s desire to make a quick profit certainly isn’t a good enough reason for change. I support the council’s decision to resist any changes to the plan and have offered my assistance in defending this position.”