A CAMPAIGNING councillor has slammed a decision to earmark some of Elderslie’s green spaces as suitable for new housing.
Andy Steel is calling for a review of Renfrewshire’s proposed Local Development Plan (LDP) after an independent reporter suggested developers could build homes on land in Auchenlodment Road and Elderslie Golf Club.
The SNP man, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, described the ruling as “absolutely outrageous.”
“At the stroke of a pen, hundreds of hours of work by residents, officers and councillors to decide where houses can and can’t be built in our area are being thrown away,” said Councillor Steel.
“The voice of local people is ignored in favour of anonymous, unelected and unaccountable civil servants.”
Councillor Steel said he was also shocked to learn the reporter had advised against the construction of homes at the site of a former quarry in Rannoch Road, Johnstone.
He told The Gazette: “To remove a potential development on a brown field site on Rannoch Road, which could have reduced the contamination there, and replace it with green areas is unbelievable, if attempts to battle climate change and increase biodiversity are to mean anything.
“Also, this decision completely removes local accountability from the process. For example, the council decided that the Auchenlodment Road site shouldn’t be released for houses but that decision has just been tossed aside.”
The reporter’s recommendations follow concerns raised in October by a number of villagers who live next to Elderslie Golf Club after proposals for 25 new luxury homes there were lodged with Renfrewshire Council.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Independent reporters have carried out an examination of the proposed Renfrewshire Local Development Plan.
“The reporters have submitted a report with recommendations to the council and it is now for the council to consider the recommendations made.
“The reporters considered all the evidence put before them in reaching their recommendations.”
Renfrewshire Council declined to comment.
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