VIDEO: Fight for Children's Woodland heard by Government officials

A public hearing is set to take place in Maryhill about the future of the North Kelvin Meadow which has been earmarked for housing

Published 5th Sep 2016

The campaign to save a children's woodland in Glasgow's west end from a housing developer's bulldozer is stepping up a gear.

A public hearing's taking place about the fate of the North Kelvin Meadow which is used by pupils from 22 local schools.

New City Vision wants to build 90 houses on the former football pitch site

And now Scottish Government officials will hear the arguments from both sides at the Maryhill Burgh Halls about the future of the disputed land which is owned by Glasgow City Council.

Watch our Chief Reporter Linda Sinclair's video report above.

In a statement New City Vision says:

"The hearing is about the review into the planning consent awarded to NCV to build 90 units of accommodation on the redundant playing fields at Clouston street.

"The site never was and is still not a community meadow but remains an active development opportunity to introduce much needed housing into the city.

"The site is surrounded by a wealth of open space accessible to the community and it is the job of the reporter to assess the City council’s decision to award a planning consent in line with their current local plan against a well organised and mobilised opposition; as developer we have complied with the local plan.

"The west end of Glasgow are very good at opposing matters in their neighbourhood; the city requires to take a broader view. Our task as developer is limited in that we are only able to respond to the council’s invitation.

"We have done this, we were the most popular design in a public consultation exercise and we have offered a fantastic range of new housing and an open and secure open space. We can do no more other than emphasise to the reporter why we were successful at committee."

A Scottish Government spokesperson says: “Scottish Ministers will make the final decision on this case following the submission of a report and recommendations from a DPEA reporter.”