Drymen dump plan is rejected

There was delight in Drymen in July, 1984, when it was revealed that Stirling District Council’s plans for a refuse dump at Drumbeg Quarry, near the village, had been turned down.

Secretary of State for Scotland George Younger refused planning permission for the tip following a two-year campaign by villagers and a public inquiry in November, 1983.

Mr Younger accepted the public inquiry reporter’s view that the dump would `seriously detract` from landscape amenity in an area of great landscape value.

It was also felt the development would impinge on the amenity and safety of Gartness Road.

Mr Younger felt any financial and operational advantages afforded to the council by the tip were outweighed by its `adverse environmental consequences’.

Drymen Community Council chairman Alan Lowdon said it was a sensible decision and campaigner Simon Rooksby said the council’s own planners had advised the authority against the site chosen for the tip.

`It cost a lot of time, effort and ratepayers money that needn’t have been spent,’he added.

Council environment director George Peggie was disappointed with the decision but explained they had now lodged plans for a transfer station at Balfron.

`That would be where local refuse collection vehicles would discharge their load and we would transfer it to a larger vehicle and take it to Stirling,’he added. At the moment we have extra vehicles working in the area and they work in relays to take the refuse back to Stirling. It’s an expensive way to operate but they are our only options now.’