Notes on the consultation

13/10/2013

It's very important that as many respond to the consultation process as possible. EDC want to hear from you if you live or work in the area. See development issues page for more help.

5 Comments

Luggie Man

21/10/2013 08:40:14 am

Would be a shame to lose so many fields. The corridor has remained untouched for years at Waterside. Perhaps improve the footpaths and add certain plants and trees to encourage the wildlife more. But then leave it alone - don't build on it. Merkland Nature Reserve has protected fenced areas, perhaps one or two here might help.

Drowned Rat

21/10/2013 11:40:58 pm

It would be a huge loss if this area were built on. I was having a chat this morning with someone whose family goes back generations in Waterside. She said those fields had always been a great place to let the kids run about and play, without any worries about traffic. Aren't we supposed to be encouraging children to get more exercise? Not take away all their green spaces.

And she mentioned brambling expeditions, which reminded me that in September it was nice to encounter a family of four all brambling cheerfully in the field off the Dam Braes path. And a granny and granddaughter doing the same on Chryston Road. And an older gentleman out with the dog told me how he used to gather rosehips there and sell them to the chemist - a source of pocket money that other Watersiders have confirmed.

We mustn't let our countryside be stolen from us.

Local

26/10/2013 10:47:29 pm

I received a pamphlet through my door yesterday which brought to my attention the proposed plans for the area. Thank you for raising my awareness. I have since emailed the council with my objections. Good job!

Peter

31/10/2013 09:39:07 pm

I'm not against development in principle.
Kirkintilloch needs new developments and the increase in population to help sustain our schools and communities generally.

The leaflet put through my door was a typical example of "get your retaliation in first" without any consideration whatsoever of what the proposals are, the extent of the development and measures the Council might adopt to preserve what everyone wants to preserve - access to the corridor.

Instead, just the usual misleading and hysterical response that has served everyone so badly in the past.

One example - "Make ED a champion council for social & green development" - presumably this can be achieved by objecting to the development and NOT building social housing at all!

You would be much better served by agreeing in principle to the need to develop Kirkie and the need to build more social housing and then negotiating the range and extent of the development unit by unit. To simply call to arms the naysayers and objectors in principle (step forward Cllr Young) to any development anywhere in Kirkintilloch will not serve you well.

Engage, negotiate and seek guarantees.

King Fisher

1/11/2013 04:16:21 am

Hi Peter,
Thank you very much for your post. It is good to hear all views.
EDC have made the first move by asking for our views in a variety of ways: speed debates, online surveys etc. In my view, what you’ve seen is not really 'retaliation in first' - more 'response in soon', as the original closing date is this Monday. I’m not aware of any ‘hysteria’ or 'usual' aspect. I don’t see anyone being misled. I understand that people are being encouraged to respond to the consultation, or in your words: 'engage, negotiate and seek guarantees' – exactly what consultations are about.
Contrary to your comment, people are being encouraged to fully consider the proposals - to help shape development by endorsing or objecting appropriately. Development could be housing but it could be nature parks and other conservation – developers provide a wide variety of things. Either way it is, as you say, ‘agreeing to developing Kirkie’ - that to ‘negotiate the range and extent unit by unit’ is what’s happening here. Negotiation means saying ‘yes’ and ‘no’. The ‘unit’ here for example, may be LDP12.
Those I know who prefer the latter are also advocates of social housing, not objectors to it – similar to your opening comment. But we also shouldn’t presume that all developments serve us well. Generally speaking, development processes that don't consult, don't serve well. Similar to occasions when people don't respond, developers understandably get it wrong, because they presumed everything was ok. We are all involved in the development process. As the council and developers serve the public - it is our duty to respond and guide the process to a successful conclusion.
I think it is good that EDC have provided so many different ways to respond. They have been entirely transparent with the information - more than I’ve ever seen. Perhaps it may be a lot to read for some. I’ve seen this week that the whole process has given people a voice and as a result they have spread concerns. Such transparency should eventually win over any accusations and increase faith in councils, as they join with their partner agencies and contractors in listening to what the public want.
This site is an advocate of wildlife protection and the wildlife we all see here are involved. But they do need a voice.
Regards.

Notes on the consultation

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