Protest group stands up against housing plans
A protest was held in Morningside in response to a controversial house-building application being resubmitted to the council.
Proposals to construct between 92 and 150 new homes on land at West Morningside have been sent to council planners.
It comes just over a year after the original application, to build 92 homes, was rejected by a Scottish Government reporter.
Scottish Labour leader, and Central Scotland MSP, Richard Leonard has met with local residents and has submitted his objection to the planning department.
Mr Leonard said: “Labour are opposed to this development. Not only is this greenbelt land – the purpose of which is to protect communities and natural assets.
“It is clear that the local infrastructure is insufficient to meet the needs of a development of this scale.
“Morningside Primary School is already stretched to capacity with children being taught in modular classrooms.
“There are also ongoing problems with the drainage and sewer system.
“Furthermore the planning application shows only one access point – off the A71 /Morningside Road roundabout. This is already hit by traffic congestion.
“There are very real concerns about access for emergency vehicles.”
Applicant Robert Hill had appealed to the Scottish Government after North Lanarkshire Council threw out the plans back in 2015.
The appeal was rejected after concerns the new homes would have a colossal impact on the nearby Morningside Primary.
The new application has already attracted a number of objections from local residents.
Morningside’s three Labour councillors have also hit out at the proposals.
In a joint statement, Clare Quigley, Kenny Stevenson and Martin McCulloch said: “We stand full square with the people of Morningside who are objecting to this development.
“It is clear the local infrastructure could not cope with the additional pressure up to 150 houses would bring.
“The area is home to deer, kestrels, bats and many more species and the loss of this green space would see their numbers decimated.”