Group slams council chiefs for handling of housing appeal
Planners accused of failings over developers row
Renfrewshire Council officials have been accused of “lacking interest and required ability” over a long- running housing threat to an Erskine beauty spot.
Persimmon is refusing to back down after its £37 million plan for a 246-home estate at the waterfront was outlawed by the Scottish Government after being kicked out by Renfrewshire Council.
Details of an email sent by Erskine Community Council to interested parties have been shown to the Paisley Daily Express.
In it, the community council lays into the officials of Cotton Street.
The email “voices concern” at the ability of the council.
And it states: “The council have demonstrated a distinct lack of interest, professional regard, and required ability, in their dealings with the DPEA (Scottish Government’s Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals) on our behalf.
“They have been continually late in their responses and failed to supply some of the most important documents in support of the councillors’ decision to refuse the planning application.
“The councillors themselves were guilty of shooting themselves in the foot by refusing to adopt LDP2 ( update to the local development plan) which gave Persimmon major ammunition.”
Persimmon’s appeal is now being handled by a separate Scottish Government Reporter, Allison Coard.
She has now asked for extra information by May 3.
Ultimately her ruling could allow Persimmon bulldozers onto the 27 acre wildlife haven, including bringing down woodland.
The rallying call against the development from Erskine Community Council added that “we must not spoil this opportunity” to get a robust response in before the deadline.
Renfrewshire Council said it always acts professionally and claimed responses are on time.
A spokesman said: “Members of the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board refused an application from Persimmon Homes Limited for a residential development at Erskine harbour at a meeting on October 27, 2020.
“Our planning department always acts professionally and our established protocol is now being followed timeously, where, in the case of appeals against planning officer recommendations, our legal team take the case forward on behalf of the council, submitting evidence to the DPEA division of the Scottish Government.
“Any appeal against a refusal of planning permission is a distinct and separate issue to the examination and adoption of the Renfrewshire Local Development Plan, a decision on which was agreed earlier this month.”
They have been continually late in their responses and failed to supply important documents