Grasp the nettle over Park of Keir
Dear Editor I note the continuing planning debacle regarding Park of Keir has not only been delayed, it is actually being allowed to continue.
It both completely beggars belief and comes as no surprise in equal measures, that despite being rejected by Stirling Council’s Planning Panel in 2015, being turned down by a Scottish Government-appointed Independent Reporter, who supported the local residents and the council’s decision nearly five years ago, the SNP Scottish Government is continuing to ride roughshod over everyone and are granting further extensions to the partners in a concerted bid to have this agreement concluded come what may.
That the can is being allowed to be kicked further down the street in order to buy further time for protracted negotiations over the signing-off of the section 75, is singularly irresponsible and not the way that any responsible government should behave.
As a local Bridge of Allan resident, I share the exasperation and dismay of everyone in the community who are able to see just what such a development will do to the local area.
This whole issue of granting a succession of extensions to the Park of Keir partners, smacks of appeasement. It suggests a complete lack of courage on the government’s part, for just not being able to say ‘no’ and to remain blinkered as to the impact that this development will have on the local infrastructure as well as our beautiful environment. They must accept that the conditions simply cannot be met, grasp the nettle, refuse permission and move on.
In my capacity as local MSP who is the Shadow Minister for Local Government, I will do all that I can in continuing the pressure on the SNP government to ensure that this can is picked up and put into the recycling for good.
Alexander Stewart MBE MSP growing tomatoes using heat from the river seems a win-win idea.
My concern is for the ecosystem in the river. Obviously, taking heat from the river water will lower the temperature of the water.
While this will allow more oxygen to be absorbed by the water, growth and growth rates of plants and animals will be less.
If there is a return to colder winters, there will be a greater likelihood that the water will freeze.
How will this affect the ecosystem?
The amount of heat available from the water will vary from season to season, being less in winter.
How will the heat extraction be regulated to compensate for this such that there is no interruption to supplies going to the greenhouses and elsewhere?
Or will the system have to be backed up by wind turbines or solar panels?
It would be reassuring to know that these aspects have been carefully considered by the proposers and acceptable solutions included in their proposals.
B.P.Donaldson Dunster Rd Stirling
The litter subject has worsened over the years especially in the summer months within the park area.
I was pleased and overjoyed to read in the media that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is going to clean up the UK of litter, etc.
We can only hope and pray that the national park takes up the challenge and cleans up the villages within its area that look like council rubbish tips for several months of the year.
Alex McLaren Burngreen, Kippen