Kilmcolm Eco Group oppose sale of land to housing firm

Councillors will made a final decision over the controversial deal for ground in Wateryetts Drive next month.

It is wanted by builders MacTaggart and Mickel to provide access for their forthcoming development of almost 80 new homes at Kilmacolm Meadow, which already has permission.

But Kilmacolm Eco Space insist that part of the area in question should be retained and kept for a community garden. They have made an application to the local authority asking for a community transfer.

Valerie Crookston of the group said: "We would prefer to keep the land for the community.

"The development is a huge loss to the community, the land is around 0.9 of an acre and we could create an eco space.

"We could grow things, have rose beds, an intergenerational space, to ameliorate the loss of the meadow and create a big wildflower area.

"If the meadow is lost, we could still have an eco space.

"The people living in the new estate would have fairly small gardens too, it would be for the benefit for everyone."

The group say they have been working closely with Bruce Newlands from the Inverclyde Shed on their campaign and have come up with ideas for an apple orchard and community planters.

They plan to get youth organisations involved and would like to have a sensory garden and make the area a community asset with a wildflower corridor.

They established a committee five years ago which includes experts such as an ecologist and someone from the RSPB.

Meanwhile there has been a delay in coming to an agreement over the land sale, as talks between the builder and Inverclyde Council are still ongoing.

The building firm already have permission in principle to build new houses on the adjacent land at the Meadow, west of Quarry Drive.

Council leader Stephen McCabe said: "A decision on the future of council-owned land at Wateryetts Drive roundabout has been delayed until the next environment and regeneration committee on May 16, as discussions with the council and housing developer has not been concluded.

"The development already has outline planning permission from the Scottish Government but if the council decided not to sell this land the scheme would need to be redesigned to remove this main access into the site, which would need to be considered again by the planners as part of any detailed planning application."

Ward councillor David Wilson believes that blocking the sale of the land to the developers for access could create problems and today branded the move from the campaigners as a 'stunt'.

He said: "I am aware that the group applied for a community asset transfer and during the consultation period over the sale of council land there was a lot of people in favour of it. If the group get an asset transfer the developers would have to use the route through Quarry Drive and along Springwood Drive, which would cause even more disruption. I think Wateryetts Drive would be the best entrance."

Councillor Wilson added: "There is absolutely no doubt that there is a need for houses for people who want to downsize, and for affordable housing for people who are getting married, instead of leaving the village to live in Bishopton. I'd rather they stay in the village.

"This is a stunt by the eco group to try to stop and to put up a barrier up to the development."

The application by Kilmacolm Eco Space will be considered at the meeting of the environment and regeneration committee.