Concern that golf club housing is a done deal

Council chiefs have insisted that a plan to build on part of Clober Golf Course is not a '˜foregone conclusion', as has been claimed by residents.
Clober Golf ClubClober Golf Club
Clober Golf Club

East Dunbartonshire Council has approved the inclusion of part of Clober Golf Course for housing in the Proposed Local Development Plan (LDP).

This is currently under review by a government reporter, with the results expected to be published at some point this summer.

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Stewart Milne Homes wants to build 120 houses on the greenbelt land, which local people say is an important wildlife corridor.

As previously reported the council has yet to receive an official planning application, but if they receive one they say it would be assessed against Local Plan 2 and “any material considerations”, which includes the Proposed Local Development Plan.

The council says the site was one of a number selected to meet housing need and demand through “a comprehensive selection process of all sites submitted by developers”.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said: “This land has been included by the council in its planned quota of housing because developers have offered to deliver the houses within five years.

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“Should the proposal be accepted, a formal application to build houses and an application to move the golf course on to neighbouring farmland is guaranteed.

“By then it will be virtually impossible for an application to build to be refused.”

There’s been claims that the builders have already spent a considerable sum of money on surveying the land, drilling boreholes and on detailed plans of the new golf course and clubhouse.

Another local resident, John Ross, said: “It seems to be a foregone conclusion and plans by the builder are already well advanced.

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“My concern is that the surrounding land is a major bird habitat, and a development will have a seriously damaging impact. Migrants such as fieldfares, mistle thrushes and redwings feed on these fields in winter and significant numbers of geese regularly graze here. Herons are seen feeding in boggy ground all year.

“An environmental impact study should be carried out.”

Thomas Glen, director of development and regeneration, said: “The site is designated in the Proposed Local Development Plan.

“The process has been comprehensively documented - visit www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/residents/planning/planning-policy/emerging-local-development-plan.”