There are now only three weeks left of the three months set by the Scottish Government reporter for the council and the developers to reach a legal agreement on conditions on which she was minded to grant the appeal against East Dunbartonshire Council's refusal of permission.

In setting the conditions the reporter acknowledged: "The terms of land transfers between the council as land owners and the appellants that would be required to implement the scheme are matters for those parties to address separately from the appeal."

Opposition to the council parting with ANY land to allow the development of housing and retail outlets has come from across the political divide and the public at large.

Members of Burnbrae Residents' Association — who stand to be the community most directly affected by the controversial plans — gathered signatures for the petition of objection to the plans at last week's farmers' market in Milngavie Precinct.

MP Jo Swinson stopped to sign the petition set up by the Kilmarddiny/Westpark Action Group (KWAG) which is also collecting signatures online.

Ms Swinson said she would encourage others to do the same and added: "This development is clearly against the public interest.

"Not only is the reporter asking the council to accept a decision which the overwhelming majority of local people have rejected, it is also asking the public to pay for the parts which the developers won't pick up the tab for.

"I am encouraging anyone who is opposed to this development to sign the KWAG petition and show their support for the campaign.

"The council must now do everything within its power to challenge the reporter's findings and make sure this poorly thought out plan does not go ahead."

Councillors are set to meet planning officials at a special meeting of the full council next Tuesday, but the Herald has learned the meeting is to be held in private.

KWAG spokesman Keith Small said of the private meeting: "This is a very disappointing move which disregards calls from politicians and the public for complete transparency over this critical planning issue — the outcome of which will have far reaching impact on the community."

SEND your views on the controversial plan to the Herald office at 27 Stewart Street, Milngavie G62 6BW, or e-mail us at
mbherald@jnscotland.co.uk