Kilsyth housing site fears aired at community council meeting

Associate technical director David Stephen, accompanied by another engineer, Wayne Barr, gave a brief address regarding the Stirling Road Cavalry Park development.

Mr Stephen said: “There’s going to be 162 houses of a variety of styles. There are a number of issues we need to address - particularly surface water issues. As you might be aware, British Waterways have a lade at the back of the site.

“With works commencing now, we believe construction of roads and houses will begin towards August, September time.”

Community Council member, Margot Macmillan, asked: “There was a point in the planning conditions saying that no development of any description shall take place until flood risk mitigation is carried out or another arrangement is made.

“So, have you got an arrangement with the planning authority?”

Mr Stephen replied: “There was concerns with regards to the workforce personnel. In order to get to the point of carrying out this work we need to get access. The work at the moment is access work to allow us in.”

Paul Carter, of Friends of the Kelvin Valley Park, said: “I’ve got some real concerns about the flood relief works. Part of this is going to be carried out within Colzium Estate.

“Part of that British Waterways path is going to be turned into flood relief. It’s a very popular path. My concern is that a 200 foot stretch of Lade Walk is to be turned into spill relief.

“We’ve got huge big beech trees there that are 200 years old, with these changes they’ll die.”

Mr Stephen responded: “We’ve been in negotiation with British Waterways for the best part of a year and a half. We raised the concern that there’s a degree of over-engineering required but the planners stuck to their guns.”

Mr Carter continued: “I also wanted to ask about the old mine shaft on site.

“I wanted to know about the water that comes from the shaft. As some may know, the Garrell Burn now has salmon.

“Somthing like this is a bad idea for salmon if the water gets polluted.”

Mr Stephen said: “As part of our application we’re required to undertake a lot of investigation.

“We’ve done a considerable number of bore holes where the shaft is recorded but it was not located on the site.”

Jim Hutchison, vice-chairman of the community council, said: “I think we should write to the planning people to say these issues were raised by Paul and his group and we would like it properly addressed to see if there is another way.”