They’re your homes but that’s our road. And you can Gait lost
Quango blocks site access
Buyers of luxury houses on an exclusive new development have been banned from using an access road by a Scottish Government body.
Transport Scotland said Ambassador Living has misled customers at its development overlooking the Queensferry Crossing, where homes are on sale for nearly half a million pounds.
It has ordered the company to remove claims the houses will get access to a road the transport quango owns near the plush estate in South Queensferry.
The firm is building 124 homes and apartments on the site of the former Forth Bridges Motel on the banks of the Forth.
The Glasgow- based house builder promises “breathtaking views” from its “luxurious” homes, on sale for £ 449,000.
Ambassador – headed up David Gaffney – wants to use the nearby Ferrymuir Gait road as a way in. But the road is not adopted by Edinburgh City Council and instead is owned by the roads quango.
Bosses at Transport Scotland have repeatedly turned down requests to use it and said it needs it to fix the bridges that cross the Forth.
In a letter last year released under FOI laws, transport bosses warned: “Ferrymuir Gait is a private access owned by the Scottish Ministers and does not serve as an access into this residential development.
“I’d be grateful if Ambassador would review the details on your website and amend the plan to make it clear to the public (and, more importantly, to prospective buyers) Ferrymuir Gait is not a vehicular access to your development.”
In September the builders put in a f resh planning application to the city council requesting use of Ferrymuir Gait. But Transport Scotland has repeated its objections. In a letter from November, it said: “It continues to
be Transport Scotland’s position that the access at Ferrymuir Gait, which is on land owned by the Scottish Ministers, should not be used as an access into the Forthview Housing Development.
“Transport Scotland requires to maintain control over access to ensure safe and uninterrupted access to the operational depot used to maintain the Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing.”
Ferrymuir Gait would be the main way into Forthview from main roads. The alternative access is from the back of the estate via two roads that goes through another estate. The row could see homeowners forced to use small surrounding roads via an existing housing estate.
Terry Airlie, of Queensferry and District Community Council, said: “Some residents are all for having access via Ferrymuir Gait Road but there are others who do not want access via that road.”
Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury said: “I fear this dispute will end up in the courts.”
Edinburgh City Council said a planning application is under review. Transport Scotland said: “We remain in construct ive dialogue with Ambassador.” Ambassador declined to comment.
Foysol Choudhury