Debate continues over green belt plan

Items on the controversial agenda — which was unanimously approved — included planning permission for further development on greenbelt land and a proposal for a new joint-faith school campus in Newton Mearns.

Leader of the opposition Gordon Wallace told The Extra: “Conservatives fought hard to mitigate the effects of an administration determined to develop on our boundaries.

“This has been a hard-fought battle to enable the shared campus to be a success .

“Having had reassurances that the concerns raised with regard to potential traffic problems and a defensible and clear greenbelt boundary would be given proper consideration, the recommendations were supported.”

On the refusal of the application to build a mosque at Eastwood High, Stewart Maxwell MSP said: “The local residents, the parents of pupils at the school, the Eastwood High School Parent Council and the local community have fought a tremendous campaign to protect the outdoor space at the school for the pupils’ use.

“I do hope that the Muslim community in East Renfrewshire can now obtain the proper site which they need and deserve on which to build a mosque for their use.”

East Renfrewshire MP Jim Murphy told The Extra: “It’s right that the council has listened to local people.

“ We have so many places of worship in East Renfrewshire for people of different faiths and local Muslim families should have that opportunity in the future.”