PLANS for a major new housing development in Cardross are to go to a public hearing after councillors demanded the public were given a chance to have their say.
Cala Management Ltd’s proposals for 120 new homes on a site at Barrs Road, north of Cardross Primary School, was subject to discussion at a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee on Wednesday, March 20.
And it was resolved that a public hearing, specifically relating to concerns over drainage and maintenance, would take place at a later date.
That was despite a council planning officer admitting it was unusual for an 'approval of matters specified in conditions' (AMSC) application to even go before councillors.
A total of 91 objections and 10 representations have been received by the council’s planning officers in relation to the latest application.
Outline planning permission for the development was granted, with conditions, by the Scottish Government in July 2019 after the developer - who was then Avant Homes Scotland - appealed over the council's non-determination of their application.
Council officials have recommended approval of Cala's submissions and the discharge of the aspects of conditional approval raised by the company.
Councillor Paul Kennedy (Liberal Democrat, Helensburgh and Lomond South) said: “Having attended several meetings and spoken to many residents, there are concerns over flooding in Cardross and access to the site as well.
“There is not much mention of the Darleith Road section at all. I use that road a lot and to me it is very narrow.
“There does not seem to be a lot of room for footways. How are pedestrians supposed to get up and down?
"You say it is vehicular access but how are ordinary pedestrians mean to get about? Sometimes it is like Sauchiehall Street [in Glasgow] there.”
Planning officer David Moore said: “I am well aware of the concerns on Darleith Road. This application has nothing in it relating to Darleith Road.
“An AMSC application relating to conditions is a whole different matter, but nothing on it is going to be material at the moment.”
Helensburgh Central Liberal Democrat Councillor Graham Hardie then said: “The bottom of Barrs Road, at the Co-op, two to three months ago was like a river running down the area on to the Main Road.
“People said they had never seen it before, and it concerns me this has not been addressed yet, and if is not, surely this development will make it 10 times worse?”
Councillor Kennedy then asked if the opportunity was available for the councillors to resolve to hold a public hearing on the application.
Mr Moore answered: “I think it would be technically possible if members were so minded. I take the view that because it was a technical submission, there would be no benefit to a hearing, and a lot of objections were based on Darleith Road.
“Usually these applications do not come before the committee; they are decided by officers.”
Councillor Kennedy responded: “This is quite important, as people are going to live there. I do not think people are objecting to the site itself; it is the location and access road, which we cannot discuss.”
Councillor Mark Irvine (Independent, Lomond North) added: “I agree with Councillor Kennedy, but if we are to have some kind of hearing, we probably have to be very specific.”
A pre-determination hearing, specific to two of the 12 conditions which were relevant to the application, was then agreed unanimously.
The hearing will take place in Helensburgh at a later date.
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