Housing developer agrees to pay for centre's extension

Elaine Birse • Published 5 Aug 2009 12:38 3 Comments

A HOUSING developer has made a U-turn on its decision to claw back £200,000 earmarked for an extension to the Dumyat Centre.

Gladedale had previously handed over the cash to Clackmannanshire Council in 2006 as part of planning conditions for over 300 homes in Menstrie.

But as the community council failed to spend the cash before the July 2008 deadline the firm said it was legally entitled to claim the money back.

Anger erupted in the Hillfoots community following the announcement and villagers planned to protest at the Stirling headquarters of the housing firm.

However, before any protest could take place Gladedale agreed to sit down with residents and council officials to discuss the matter.

On Friday, after four meetings, the developers finally backed down and have allowed the community to proceed with the extension.

Good work

Councillor Eddie Carrick, who sat in on the meetings, told the Advertiser, "A lot of good work has been done by officers, Gladedale and the community council around this. I'm delighted that common sense has prevailed and the community will enjoy the extension to the Dumyat Centre."

As previously reported in the Advertiser, Gladedale were granted planning permission for a phased residential development of 24 hectares at Menstrie Mains totalling 300 homes. The agreement had the added condition that the firm should contribute £200,000 to Clackmannanshire Council for the purpose of constructing the extension to the Dumyat Centre.

Clause 11 of the agreement stated that the money must be used within two years of the last instalment which came in July 2006. It meant that the council had until summer 2008 to spend the cash.

However, months before the deadline council officers wrote to Gladedale asking for a time extension but earlier this year the developer said it was refusing the request and demanded its money back.

Already the community council had planning permission for the extension to the Dumyat Centre and now that the dispute with Gladedale has been settled the project is expected to go out to tender in the coming months.

Les Sharp, chair of Menstrie Community Council, said, "We are delighted to hear that an agreement has been reached to secure the funding of the extension to the Dumyat Centre.

Community space

"This will bring much needed community space to the village. We have to thank Councillor Eddie Carrick for his input and work in achieving this outcome.

"I would also like to thank all the people who assisted us by, logging on to web sites, emailing and generally supporting our cause. We now await a meeting with Gladedale to finalise the details of the build and hope that we will soon see the work commence on this new village facility."

A spokesperson for Gladedale (Central Scotland) Ltd, added, "We are delighted that our recent engagement with the local community, Community Council and Councillor Carrick has resulted in the successful preservation of the funding allocated for the extension of the Dumyat Centre in Menstrie.

"A strong partnership has been forged during this period and we look forward to seeing the resulting benefits to the community which the improved Dumyat Centre will bring."

Tweet

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Bob
  Unregistered User
  Aug 6, 00:27
  Report comment

  "As previously reported in the Advertiser, Gladedale were granted planning permission for a phased residential development of 24 hectares at Menstrie Mains totalling 300 homes. The agreement had the added condition that the firm should contribute £200,000 to Clackmannanshire Council for the purpose of constructing the extension to the Dumyat Centre."
  
  Sounds like blackmail by any definition. Interesting to know how Local Authorities in Scotland conduct business!!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Bob
  Unregistered User
  Aug 8, 02:08
  Report comment

  After a second look extortion would seem to fit the bill as well!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Jimmy Neebur
  Unregistered User
  Nov 13, 00:20
  Report comment

  Look again... £200k secured for the neeburs by the cooncil.... wid ye rather they just let developers build and no give onything back tae the community?!?! Good work by the cooncil in my opinion in this case. "blackmail" "extortion"... get a grip! Planning applications are published for aw cooncils - away and read some of them and educate yerself further.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

Post a comment

Comments posted in the evening, through the night and at weekends will be queued for moderation as we do not have moderators available outwith office hours.

Your Comment:

Registered users log in here

Username or email

Password

If you are registered with us, you can login here. If you are not registered, do so now.
Once logged in you wont have to complete word verification each time you post.

Prefer not to register?

Screen Name *required

Email (not displayed) *required

Usernames must be 4 - 20 characters. Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users can also take part in competitions and other features of the site.

Word Verification:
Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @alloatiser