Auchenhowie joy for West of Scotland Rugby Club
PERMISSION has been granted for the controversial development of 50 acres of green belt land at Auchenhowie in Milngavie for sports pitches, a stand and a golf range.
The granting of the new pitch provision away from Kilmardinny does NOT signal that the 550 new CALA homes proposed for there will bo ahead.
That was pointed out by Councillor Amanda Stewart who moved for grant of the application.
Members of West of Scotland Rugby Club were jubilant at the 12-8 vote in favour — following a three-and-a-half hour debate at the public hearing.
Interestingly, the vote among Milngavie and Bearsden councillors was a 4-4 split — Councillors Bill Binks, Vaughan Moody and Simon Hutchison voting with Councillor Stewart and Councillors Ian Mackay, Eric Gotts, Duncan Cumming and Graeme Douglas voting against.
Colourful
Bearsden Councillor Ian MacKay did not share Councillor Stewart's view on Kilmardinny and said after the meeting: "I left with the feeling that the CALA part of the application was all about releasing the existing West of Scotland ground for the additional 200-250 new houses referred to in the Kilmardinny/Westpark proposal."
A capacity-packed Milngavie Town Hall was the venue for the planning hearing on Tuesday night, following an afternoon site visit by board members to view the land adjacent to Murray Park.
West juniors provided a colourful greeting in the foyer, wearing their distinctive yellow and red strips, while players, coaches and fans also sported club colours — like long-time club associates Frank and Frankie Hogarth.
Proceedings opened with speakers for the application, including West president Gordon Cairns and head coach John Beattie being heard first, followed by Keith Small and Dr Norman Peacock, speaking in objection on behalf of Bearsden North, Milngavie and Baldernock community councils.
Survived
Mr Cairns spoke on the history of the club, the part it has long played in the community and how imperative it was in financial terms that the application be granted.
He said: "Without the recent support of CALA we would not have survived — our situation was becoming untenable."
John Beattie spoke on how unfit many Scottish children are and said a training session at West gave youngsters most of the exercise they needed to keep fit
See this week's Herald for full report and comment.
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Weather for Milngavie
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
