Campaigners call for answers from council

The Redmoss site in Milton of Campsie could see 50-80 homes being built on it after it was earmarked for development in East Dunbartonshire Council’s Proposed Local Development Plan.

But locals say hundreds of objections were sent to the council in an effort to halt the plans.

Secretary of Milton of Campsie Greenbelt Preservation group, Alan Harris, said: “The fact that the council has refused to confirm the exact number of objections speaks for itself.”

A petition with 333 signatures was sent to the council and he believes that several hundred more objections have been been lodged about the development.

Mr Harris says there was confusion about the methods people could use to object due to unclear instructions from the council.

He said: “They made it extremely difficult for people to make representations by their initial insistence that all comments ‘must be submitted by email on their official form or via their online survey monkey’, and a refusal to accept letters until a week before the deadline.”

He added that a “giant obstacle” for people who wished to object was the idea that only one comment could be made per response and this led to many people submitting numerous forms.

The council’s director of development and regeneration, Thomas Glen, said: “We cannot go into detail at this time in terms of representations received for particular sites, but we thank everyone who took the opportunity to get in touch.

“The council is currently collating, examining and evaluating the representations received, after which modifications may be made to the proposed LDP.

“The extent of any modifications will determine whether a further period of consultation is necessary.

“If unresolved representations remain, the council will be required to submit the proposed LDP to the Scottish Government.

“Scottish ministers will then appoint one or more reporters to examine the proposed plan. Any examination will be advertised in local newspapers and those who made representations will be individually notified.”

Redmoss is currently owned by Bellway Homes. A proposal to build on the land was rejected in 2011 by the Scottish Reporter.