Homes plan is approved despite road safety fears
Objections fail to halt progress
Road safety concerns for a proposed housing development in Killearn, with the only access and exit on a blind bend, have failed to put a halt on the plans.
On Tuesday Stirling Council’s planning and regulations panel approved plans by developers Mactaggart and Mickel for 35 new properties on land between Gartness Road and Blairessan House near Station Road, including plans for 12 affordable homes for Rural Stirling Housing Association.
The panel also agreed three additional conditions — the creation of a construction management plan, a landscape management plan and a traffic plan.
Council planners had recommended conditional approval of the application, however it had been referred to the panel by local councillor and panel member Alistair Berrill.
Killearn Community Council had objected to the application, which has also attracted 15 objections and one letter of support on grounds including loss of greenfield and amenity, road safety and access, design and mix of housing, and setting precedence for future housing.
Councillor Berrill waived his right to vote as a panel member and instead chose to address the panel as ward councillor on behalf of the objectors.
He said: “This has been a longstanding and controversial issue. This is a relatively large development of 35 houses and what could be 50-60 associated cars all funnelling down to a single access which is fairly cramped so this will become an even busier junction. It is very difficult to see oncoming traffic and this development is adding to the hazard.”
Councillor Berrill said parents and individuals could only manage the risk so far.
“In terms of design I’m sure community together to celebrate what makes Stirling great, to promoting the city to thousands of new visitors and generating a vast amount of money for our local economy, it’s clear Stirling’s first marathon has brought significant sporting, cultural and economic benefits to the people of Stirling. I look forward to seeing the event these are fine houses which would fit in positively on many sites but not here. At the moment there is a pleasing eclectic mix and to dump this housing development here is not good for the quality of the Conservation Area.”
Also speaking on behalf of objectors, chartered engineer Sam Short said: “Mature adults would make a decision about crossing the road but children can be less disciplined or distracted particularly when in groups and they will do their own thing.”
Depute convener Councillor Chris Kane said he lived in a culde-sac with a similar number of houses and road access.
He added: “You can only look to manage not eliminate the risk. It’s an impossible level of aspiration. I walk my own children to school until I feel they are of an age to go themselves and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask parents to do that.”
Councillor Maureen Bennison said: “I understand what is being said about road safety but logic and common sense would tell anyone don’t cross a road on a blind bend. Parents will teach their kids whether it was safe or not to cross the road.”
Andrew Mickel from the developers said: “We have positively engaged in the community and have been open minded in making changes to these proposals as a result of meetings. We will have continuing dialogue with the community even when construction begins.”
The Scottish Government planning reporter in 2014 concluded the Blairessan site should be allocated for residential development, it having previously been removed in 2012 from Stirling Council’s Draft Proposed Local Development Plan.
Panel members were told if the application was refused it would be open to the developer to appeal against the refusal to the same department.
Councillor Graham Lambie failed to find a seconder for his motion to refuse the application, and said: “I’m really concerned about the crossing and I don’t think this remediation goes far enough.”
Following the hearing, panel convener Alasdair MacPherson commented: “One of our key priorities is to build more affordable homes across the Stirling Council area as part of Strategic Housing Investment Plan.
“The land at Killearn was identified for housing as part of our Local Development Plan and given that Killearn is a highly pressured area, we welcomed the chance to bring new homes to the area. I look forward to seeing this project getting underway and for new tenants to be able to access these new properties in the future.”