A DECISION on plans for new homes in Alloa, which would also pave the way for brand new facilities for the town's rugby club, has been deferred amid councillor concerns.
Allanwater Homes had hoped to secure approval from Clackmannanshire Council's planning committee on Tuesday for the final and ninth phase of development of the Alloa Park site, which was started more than 20 years ago.
A total of 91 new homes are proposed for the site to the south of Forth Crescent, which comprises the rugby club's existing two pitches and one other pitch not used by the club, as well as adjoining unused land to the north and west of the pitches and clubhouse.
If approved, a new 3G surfaced rugby pitch would be created to the western side of the site for the use of Alloa Rugby Football Club (ARFC), while a second grass pitch would be created to the south of this on land between Riverside Drive and phase eight of the wider Alloa Park housing development.
However, councillors have stopped short of granting planning permission for the time being – citing fears about the impact on local schools, flooding issues and a perceived lack of affordable housing.
Council leader Ellen Forson, who was substituting for another committee member on Tuesday, called for the deferral, noting there was no information alongside the application about the impact the houses could have on school capacity.
She added: "We come across this problem time and time again when housing is approved and we find ourselves not able to accommodate the children in our schools.
"We really need to be more focused on this."
Ms Forson also expressed concerns about the fact that only 12 of the 91 houses are proposed as affordable housing, falling short of the 20 per cent benchmark, and also flooding issues which have blighted the area for many years.
Indeed, water ingress at nearby St Mungo's RC PS have forced pupils and staff to relocate elsewhere, while drainage issues rendered one of the pitches currently available to Alloa Rugby Club unusable.
Grant Baxter, principal placemaking officer, said the flood risk from a planning perspective had been addressed by the applicant, but the majority of councillors backed Ms Forson's approach.
Cllr Denis Coyne said: "It does kind of seem we're crossing our fingers a wee bit in an area that has always been soggy.
"I think we have to be careful on what we do here."
And Cllr Kenneth Earle added: "This will not go away. We have to look at the flooding issue and to me there's just too many questions that have no answers."
The deferral came after Cllr Donald Balsillie's motion to approve failed to find a seconder, and he then subsequently abstained.
The matter will return to the chamber for consideration in due course.
Gary McPhail, vice-president of ARFC, was keen to stress the importance of the new facilities to the club.
He said: "Without these it will not be possible for the club to continue to train and play rugby fixtures in this location due to the drainage issues rendering the current pitches unusable once the next phase of housing at Alloa Park is completed.
"There is not the funding, nor want, to relocate to another area of Alloa (even if another suitable location was available) and it is the ARFC's preference that the planning application as proposed is granted permission and the new facilities delivered by Allanwater Homes Ltd.
"This will be done at no cost to the club, or its members, and in our view provides the only solution to maintain the ARFC presence and provide an upgrade to facilities to improve training and continue play here."
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