Elect me and we will keep it green, pledges Natalie

Candidate’s vow on land

An SNP candidate says protecting greenbelt land will be a major priority for her party at next months council elections.

Natalie Don says the land delivers major benefits to towns and villages and pledged, if elected, the SNP will seek to preserve Renfrewshire’s natural countryside, and promote the re- use of vacant urban.

The Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank ward candidate has re- affirmed the SNP manifesto commitment to encourage building on brown belt land.

Ms Don, who is the party’s youngest candidate at 28, said: “This issue is especially relevant within our villages, but also throughout many areas in Renfrewshire.

“Too often our greenbelt land is being infringed upon and our villages are seeing the full force of this with new developments popping up regularly.

“The SNP remain the only party who have defended the greenbelt whilst also increasing it in some areas.

“If in administration we will ensure that policies for protecting our greenbelt remain constant and firm.

“I am proud of our promise to promote the use of vacant brownfield sites for developments and direct growth to the most appropriate locations, in an attempt to divert away from our natural greenbelt land.

“There are plenty of former industrial land and gap sites around Renfrewshire, which can be used, and in promoting its use, an SNP administration will be working to protect our greenbelt and natural countryside.”

Last month, hundreds of residents in Elderslie raised objections to new homes being built on former greenbelt land off the village’s Abbey Road.

However, after years of protesting the move, JCB diggers rolled on to the land while construction workers ripped up fencing and hedges.

The foundations will be laid for a new Abbey View development, featuring detached and semidetached homes.

Planning permission was rejected by Renfrewshire Council in November 2015, but the decision was overturned by the Scottish Government on appeal in October last year – despite hundreds of objections.