Brownfield sites could get houses
Sewing group Allanwater Patchers have been busy making quilts for one of Scotland’s best-known charities.
The group meets in Dunblane Cathedral Halls every Tuesday from 10am until noon and recently handed over more than 20 of the expertly-crafted bedspreads to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, formerly known as Yorkhill Children’s Charity and established to support children and their families treated at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children atYorkhill.
The ladies have stitched a number of qulits for various charities.
Work from the ladies will be on show tomorrow (Thursday) in the Victoria Hall as part of the annual Dunblane Christmas Extravaganza from 5pm featuring activities across the town centre including Santa and his grotto, reindeer, musical street entertainment and a fireworks display.
Allanwater Patchers will also be taking part in a Christmas market in the Victoria Hall on December 8 from 10am-4pm when they will again be raising money for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
Disused brownfield sites could be brought into use by Stirling Council for new housing schemes in future.
In planning terms, brownfield land is any previously developed land that is not currently in use, whether contaminated or not.
The term is also used to describe land previously used for industrial or commercial purposes with known or suspected pollution including soil contamination due to hazardous waste.
Members of Stirling Council’s environment and housing committee heard that housing officials were looking at the potential for building on more such areas.
Tory councillor Martin Earl said: “Where are we with comprehensive register of brownfield sites across the council area, of a certain size or more, who owns them, what’s the situation, how long have they been sitting there and what conversations could be had? This is one of my bugbears.
“I’d like to see a report on brownfield sites and get an idea of the scale, where they are, and what work is being done on them, because we talk a lot about the need for more houses. We have a lot of brownfield sites and I’d like a better understanding.”
Head of housing Lorna Cameron said: “My colleagues have done a lot of work. In the past we have built on brownfield sites. They come with a lot of challenges but that’s something we discuss with planners.”
Senior infrastructure manager Brian Roberts added: “We have derelict and contaminated land, some is registered and some has outline planning consent that the owners are just not using. We are going to be looking at the funds now available through the Scottish Government Land Fund and whether other public sector funding may be available.
“We will work with SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) as well and whether council can look to acquire land for housing or something else, and hopefully see some positive contribution of that land within our communities.
“We are looking to bring forward a report in 2020. There can be various levels of contamination involved in brownfield sites and that sometimes means people start worrying about the costs but in fact there’s things that can often be done.”
SNP councillor Evelyn Tweed added: “I’d like to back up what Councillor Earl has said. It is imperative that we start to look at brownfield sites, particularly as a Scottish Government fund is there specifically to look at that type of land.”