Site plan scrapped

Community leader says he is ‘delighted’ with decision

COMMUNITY leaders are celebrating a decision they hope has ended plans for a housing development “once-and-for-all”.

Stephen Cragg, secretary of Kirkton Community and Safety Partnership, said he was delighted with the outcome of a planning meeting at which councillors rejected two further applications for the 62-house development in Gillburn Road on the former site of Kingspark School.

Mr Cragg said the latest decision by councillors to refuse the applications by Persimmon Homes was very welcome news for the local community.

He said: “These decisions were better than we could have hoped for. We now hope this has put a stop to this proposed development once and for all.

“The applicants obviously have three months in which to appeal the decisions. However, if they do we will continue our fight to put an end to the development.”

Last month, developers Persimmon Homes had an application for the houses rejected by the local authority.

However, proposals to “facilitate” development on the site were before the planning committee last night.

The first application concerned the existing vehicle access to the site as well as extending the existing footpath and the creation of a new footpath.

The second application sought to regrade land to level it off.

However, there were two motions to reject the applications. These were passed unanimously by the committee.

SNP councillor Stewart Hunter said: “I don’t think we should be considering approving this when we’ve already refused the previous application.”

West End Liberal Democrat councillor Fraser Macpherson said the application should be rejected because it would be detrimental to the site and of no benefit to the community.

Labour leader Kevin Keenan said: “Persimmon’s application included measures aimed at reducing flooding at the site. I have concerns that these measures could actually make the flooding worse.”

Persimmon had not responded to a request for comment as the Tele went to press.

The former Kingspark School site, which was earmarked for housing.