Ravenscraig appeal fight
Lanarkshire MSPS have been challenged to fight for residents after a logistics giant submitted a planning appeal to Scottish Ministers for its controversial transport hub at Ravenscraig.
Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig councillor Kenneth Duffy has written to local parliamentarians, who registered objections to the original application, demanding they make urgent representations with Scottish Government Ministers to throw out the appeal.
Cllr Duffy said:“this has rightly stirred a lot of anger in the local community given the promises verbalised at the planning meeting from the applicant that they would not appeal.
“The campaign against the initial application was spearheaded by Ravenscraig Community Action Group supported by a cross party collection of MSPS, MPS and councillors.
“This bipartisan approach was well received by residents who felt encouraged observing party politics cast aside for the good of the community.
“Local parliamentarians made public objections to the application before it came before council. I have asked they now speak with party colleagues in government to reiterate those views.
“If the Scottish Government want to resolve democratic deficits, they should set the example by allowing local democracy to flourish and putting an end to these unwelcome interventions.”
Scottish Ministers can intervene in the determination of a planning application where a matter of genuine national interest may be at stake.
Motherwell and Wishaw
MSP Clare Adamson said: “I am disappointed that the developers have lodged an appeal at the last possible moment – having committed not to do so when the matter came before council.
“I worked with my colleague, Marion Fellows MP, over concerns around the accessibility of the initial consultation process in 2020.
“The fundamental issues remain unchanged. This proposal is a complete departure from the Ravenscraig masterplan. The people who made Ravenscraig their home bought into a vision of a regenerated residential community.
“This development would irreparably alter the character of that community and, on that basis, the local authority rightly rejected.
“The appeal is a judicial process and it is now a matter for the Scottish Government’s reporter.
“But I trust the reporter will be cognisant of the overwhelming response from residents, the council’s definitive rejection and the detrimental and irreversible impact that this development would have on Ravenscraig.
“In practice, it would cease to be a community but instead become an industrial site.”
Central Scotland Green MSP Gillian Mackay added:“this proposal has already been rejected by North Lanarkshire Council following significant pressure from local.
“It’s time for the new community Lanarkshire was promised with schools and local amenities, not massive industrial buildings and 800 dirty diesel HGVS passing by a number of schools in the town 24 hours a day.
“I will be writing to the Minister to voice my concerns.”