While many local MSPs have been supportive of protecting our greenbelt - including motions to the parliament, many are uncommitted to fighting for an ‘Equal Right of Appeal” for communities in the new planning bill and we hope this will be reflected in how people choose to vote in the next election cycle.Patrick McAleer
North Lanarkshire is an uncomfortable position in terms of its Local Plan and developers exploit loopholes to push through inappropriate development. Local Greens have been working hard, organising meetings and workshops and assisting with local grassroots campaigns to highlight the uneven playing field faced by communities.
Patrick McAleer - North Lanarkshire Co-convenor stated “While many local MSPs have been supportive of protecting our greenbelt - including motions to the parliament, many are uncommitted to fighting for an ‘Equal Right of Appeal” for communities in the new planning bill and we hope this will be reflected in how people choose to vote in the next election cycle.“
Our commuter belt status has propelled certain areas such as Stepps, Chapelhall, Gartcosh and Cumbernauld to the very top of the developer wish list.and communities have come to realise there is very little the local authority planners can do to protect them. Suburban mansion type developments on much loved community greenbelt do nothing to address local affordable housing needs and contribute nothing to areas already struggling with insufficient infrastructure.
Local greens have been working hard within communities to oppose the loss of greenspace and protect wildlife habitat. Co-convener Rosemary McGowan, Secretary of the Save Woodhall and Faskine Campaign said: “Communities are struggling against a tidal wave of building proposals. The developers and land agents have really upped their game, they exploit the loop-holes in local planning and via their preferential right of appeal, they force through these developments, leaving communities feeling powerless. We need a concerted and immediate effort to ensure communities have a say in what happens in their local area, we are assisting community groups to support each other and organisations like Planning Democracy in achieving that.”
“I am really proud of how the branch has managed to assist local communities in a totally voluntary capacity, if our members can make this much impact in their free time imagine the difference we could make with our own Green representatives”.