Bridgehaugh ecstasy dealer’s fate deferred

A man has admitted dealing in ecstasy at Stirling County Rugby Club.

Sami Naz, of Myretoungate, Alva, had admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of the class-A drug at the rugby through illegal parking. This had a major detrimental impact on their client’s main business in the village, The Oak Tree Inn and St Mocha Coffee Shop. This resulted in staff being stood down.

“Against the need to address the car parking capacity shortfall, their client decided to use the western section of the lodge site as a temporary 70 space car park. It is considered the additional temporary parking will increase car parking capacity in the village, thereby relieving pressure on illegal roadside verge parking, and help meet the needs club’s Bridgehaugh premises on November 15 last year.

The 24-year-old’s not guilty plea to a charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine at the club on the same date was however accepted by the Crown.

At Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Naz’s agent Frazer of visitors and local businesses as well as sustaining jobs.”

In their decision, park planners said: “The car park has already been formed by the laying of hardcore and the erection of a timber fence along the boundary, however there is a barrier at the front entrance and the use has not yet been implemented.

“The site forms part of a larger site that in 2017 received consent for a tourism development comprising self-catering lodges, restaurant and smokehouse. A number of the self-catering units, to the east of the site have been built but the rest of the site remains undeveloped.

“Whilst recognising the provision of additional car parking on the scale proposed is not a sustainable solution in the long term, it is accepted that the use of the site, as a temporary car park, could assist in alleviating existing pressures on parking and the road network whilst longer term solutions are being developed.

“The applicant has sought consent for three years, however it is considered that permission for two years is a more reasonable time period given the departure from policy and the work

McCready told Sheriff Pino Di Emidio that a report previously requested was not available.

The letter informing Naz about his appointment with a social worker, scheduled for February 24, did not arrive at his Alva home until two days later.

The lawyer added that Naz had told him about the matter that is already on-going to find a more permanent solution to parking issues.”

Mr Fraser’s proposal had been backed by local conservation charity Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, who had said more than 300 parking spaces had been lost on East Loch Lomondside in the last 15 years and the introduction of clearways and police no parking signs.

Friends chairman James Fraser had said: ‘‘The growing popularity of Balmaha and nearby Conic Hill has led to substantial growth in visitors arriving in the area by car and the area is simply not coping, leading to traffic congestion and dissatisfaction amongst residents and visitors.”

Stirling Council has meanwhile been formulating a strategy in a bid to deal with the issue, including bringing in charges for the car park alongside improvements and provision of additional parking spaces for caravans and camper vans.

The council, which is working with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority on the plans, has said it wants to find a balance between encouraging people to Stirling’s villages without parking issues causing problems for both visitors and residents. as soon as he received the letter from social work on February 26.

Mr McCready said Naz had also contacted the social work department on receiving the letter, but was told it was too late to get another appointment.

He asked Sheriff Di Emidio to further defer sentence on the matter for the report.

Sheriff Emidio agreed, but told Naz: “It is essential that a report does become available to the court.”

Sentence was further deferred for a criminal justice social work report and restriction of liberty order assessment until April 1. Bail was continued meantime.