Published: Wednesday, 27th August, 2008 12:30
Dollar is split over housing go-ahead
By Jamie MacDonald
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A CONTROVERSIAL housing development in Dollar has been given the green light by the Scottish Government.
Developers AWG/Taylor Wimpey Development had previously been given outline permission by Clackmannanshire Council’s regulatory committee to build up to 20 houses, a cemetery and a playing field with changing facilities on land next to Kellyburn and Lovers Loan.
But as the council had an interest in the development notification was needed – and has now been received – from Holyrood that they would not be calling the application in for greater scrutiny.
There was support from those involved with Dollar Glen Football Club who have been crying out for a pitch with changing facilities for several years.
A new cemetery is also required in the village and both will be delivered at no cost to the council.
Kenny Mitchell, manager at Dollar Glen FC, told the Advertiser that for 15 years the local boys’ teams have had to travel all over the county to use council pitches or borrow Dollar Academy’s pitch – the only one in the village – without showering facilities.
He said, “It is great news for the football club. Part of the rules of the Scottish Football Association is that you have adequate changing facilities but with us they have turned a bit of a blind eye.
“We have an under-14 and an under-21 team. It is not so bad for the 14s as they can change in Strathdevon Primary but for the 21s players they need to have showers as a lot of the time they are heading to their work or out afterwards and we can’t give them that.”
He added, “We are over the moon with the decision but we are not sure when it will happen.
“With the financial situation as it is they might not be building anything for a while – at the moment there are about 40 houses for sale in Dollar.”
Opposition to the plans was strong with over 100 people objecting for reasons including road safety, building on greenbelt land, flooding issues and that the site is outwith the established Dollar boundary.
Mick Rice, of Dollar Civic Trust, spoke out against the development at the council’s regulatory committee meeting in May, stating that it was a dangerous precedent to grant permission to build outside Dollar’s boundaries. He was disappointed the application had been given the go ahead but was keen to find out exactly what the developers had in store.
Mr Rice said, “It is only outline permission at the moment and we still don’t know quite what they have planned – we will just have to wait and see.
“Since the application we have had several meetings with the council with a view to tightening up the issues with regard to building on the greenbelt.”
Like Mr Mitchell, Mr Rice also mentioned the financial climate and questioned whether AWG/Taylor Wimpey would proceed with their application to build the houses, cemetery, football pitch and changing facilities any time soon.
No one was available to discuss the Dollar application when the Advertiser called AWG/Taylor Wimpey’s offices but it is understood that, at present, no plans or further applications have been made by the company regarding the land at Kellyburn and Lovers Loan.
Detailed plans still require to be passed by the council regarding specifics of the development. Traffic calming measures and road improvements would have to be included in these plans.
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