Published: Wednesday, 5th August, 2009 12:38pm

Housing developer agrees to pay for centre's extension

by Elaine Birse

Councillor Eddie Carrick is delighted an agreement has been reached with the developer.

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."

Return to: Homepage | News Index | This article