Scottish Government 'orders' council to allow building on Duntiglennan Fields

The government this week said it would not permit the council to adopt its local development plan — unless the Duntiglennan Fields is designated for housing development.

But provost Douglas McAllister, councillor for Duntocher, says he will not be 'bullied’ into going against the wishes of his constituents.

The Scottish Government had, earlier this year, encouraged West Dunbartonshire Council to identify the Duntiglennan Fields as land for homes in a bid to ensure the area met its new build housing target for 2020. However, councillors, backed by Clydebank residents, said the loss of the green space was too big a sacrifice.

Now backed into a corner, council officers are recommending the housing proposal is approved by elected members at Wednesday's (24) meeting of the planning committee. This is because the council cannot legally adopt a local development plan which does not have the backing of the Scottish Government.

Provost McAllister said he was dismayed when he received the letter from the Scottish Government this week.

“This is being presented as a fete accompli, that we have to do this,” he told the Post. “But I am not going to do this no matter the letter says.

“Over the last three days I have been inundated with emails and phone calls from my constituents impressing that we must stick to our guns.

“There is absolutely no way I’m going to let the Scottish Government to bully me into something my constituents do not want me to do. It was in my manifesto to protect the Duntiglennan Fields. People are reminding me of that and I am not going back on my word.” The Scottish Government stated that the national planning reporter made the housing recommendation.

Councillor McAllister argued that the government had the authority to reverse this decision but was not listening to concerned residents living on Mirren Drive, Farm Road, and Craigielea Road.

He said: “The three ward councillors are all against it and it was the unanimous decision of the planning committee. Every single councillor rejected this proposal to effectively free up that greenfield site.

“My view is there’s plenty of brownfield housing opportunities in Clydebank but of course big businesses don’t want the brownfield sites, they want greenfield sites because that’s where the profit lies. This decision is effectively allowing developers to cherry pick greenfield sites in West Dunbartonshire and sends a clear message to developers that it doesn’t matter if local people don’t want it, the Scottish Government will allow them to do it.” A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The direction to allocate the site for housing is in line with the recommendation of the reporter, following an examination of the plan, and includes measures to address possible impacts on landscape and transport.

“Scottish planning policy is clear that a five-year land supply must be maintained at all times.” She added that, while preference was given to reuse brownfield sites, the local development plan acknowledges that some greenfield sites will also be used.