Development should benefit us all

Dear Editor, I write regarding the story in the Observer of April 22, 2016, headed ‘New plans are driving villagers parking mad’ concerning proposals to develop land off Kippen Main Street.

The timing of this report is particularly relevant because of the current build of a private house on Fore Road, Kippen, which carries most of the traffic to and from Glasgow and the west.

This application was approved in spite of protests from residents, the Kippen Community Council and Stirling Civic Trust, because the site was the main car park for the Inn at Kippen, and there were already parking concerns (including from Stirling Council roads department).

At the planning stage it was stated that the site had sufficient space for a turning circle and parking for two cars.

It is now patently obvious that this is not the case and any cars for this residence will join all the other parked cars on the road along with Inn customers and the street residents’ vehicles. It should also be noted that there are specified areas in the village already designated for private housing development in the local development plan.

Unless there is a plan for a new community centre in that plan, the existing village centre should be developed as a civic area for the benefit of all the residents.

Jack Sutherland, Kippen resident and Secretary of Stirling Civic Trust