Calls for public consultation on plans for Netherlee multi-use games area

Some people who live near Netherlee Primary School are demanding wider consultation is held before a decision is made on East Renfrewshire Council education department’s bid to build on the current sports field.

They feel this can’t be carried out adequately until the coronavirus pandemic is over and public meetings can be held.

The council has said it is “unlikely” any decision will be made on the application in the near future.

It is understood the school carried out a survey with parents before the plans were submitted.

Since then, 18 objections have been submitted to the local authority, with just two letters of support.

Concerns include a potential increase in anti-social behaviour, parking problems possibly being exacerbated and the impact on nearby houses of the glare from new floodlights.

Residents also fear they would be denied access to the land if the new pitch was locked outwith school hours other than for paying customers.

One objector said they were concerned the school’s neighbours “will lose access to an area of green space at the weekends and during holidays which is frequently used by a wide section of the community”.

Another resident who responded to the consultation said: “There are so many questions people want to ask about these proposals, and work together to get them right.

“Under normal circumstances public meetings could be held to discuss. In the current circumstances it would be illegal to hold such meetings.

“The application to concrete over this green space and barricade it away from the public must therefore be withdrawn and resubmitted further to a local community consultation once the COVID-19 emergency has ended.”

Councillor David Macdonald, an independent who represents Clarkston, Netherlee and Williamwood, has agreed public engagement needs to be carried out “without any hindrances”.

He is supportive of the application being suspended until “lockdown is lifted”.

Another resident said: “I am open minded to the proposal to redevelop the Netherlee playing fields, but I strongly feel that the consultation should be paused until the pandemic has passed.”

In response to the concerns, a council spokesman said: “All procedures relating to this planning application have been met in full, with neighbours within twenty metres of the proposed site being formally notified.

“In addition, the application was also advertised in the media, as is a requirement of planning legislation.

“This application is still in its early stages and it is unlikely that a decision will be made in the near future.”