The version which was published was very professional but too large to post onto the blog.
PINEFIELD MANOR RESIDENTS’ GROUP OBJECTION: PLAY AREALIONTHORN WOODLANDS
Information Pack 8 March 2008
1. Introduction Lionthorn is an exclusively residential area located south of Falkirk town centre, on the edge of the urban area. Lionthorn Woods nestles between Achray Drive, Bracklinn Place, and Abbotsmoss Drive, Falkirk, and extends southwards into the open countryside beyond. This ancient and well-established woodland is very popular with residents and any individuals interested in wildlife and the countryside. Respectfully overseen by members of the Lionthorn Community Woodlands Association, this area of natural beauty is alive with a diverse array of indigenous plants, trees, shrubs, and wildlife. Roe deer, badgers, foxes and protected species including bats, have also made this area their home.
The Lionthorn Residents’ Association opposes this proposal. The Pinefield Manor Residents’ Group is a sub-section of the Lionthorn Residents’ Association. The Group has been formed to support positive community and environmental developments, and to represent the collective views of all residents, whose homes are directly adjoining or adjacent to the proposed Play Area, Lionthorn Woodlands, Falkirk.
The Group comprises the following people:
Name/s Address
Ian & Janet King 2 Bracklinn Place, Falkirk
Alan & Lesley O’Neill 4 Bracklinn Place, Falkirk
Rick & Pamela McCormick 6 Bracklinn Place, Falkirk
Stuart Adam 8 Bracklinn Place, Falkirk
Gordon & Hope Allan 46 Achray Drive, Falkirk
John Leitch & Vivienne Rintoul 48 Achray Drive, Falkirk
Hugh & Liz Whiteside 50 Achray Drive, Falkirk
Billy & Helen McDavid 52 Achray Drive, Falkirk A
lan & Heather Haig 53 Achray Drive, Falkirk
Keith Watson & Gayle Shotton 54 Achray Drive, Falkirk
Larry & Nan Hotchkies 55 Achray Drive, Falkirk
Gary & Liz Hendrie 56 Achray Drive, Falkirk
Dougie & Sandra Bendall 58 Achray Drive, Falkirk
Kenny & Gill Bayne 60 Achray Drive, Falkirk
Alison Coutts 62 Achray Drive, Falkirk.
2. Background In 1996, the Council granted outline planning permission for housing development at Lionthorn, and entered into a legal planning agreement with Callendar Estate to secure planning gain money for the benefit of the community.
In Sept 2006, due to the fact that the various Lionthorn housing developments were near completion, the Council began formal consultation with the local community, on how the money could be most effectively spent.
On 5 September 2006 Council Planning staff wrote to Lionthorn residents and enclosed a questionnaire, which contained seven proposals for spending the planning gain contributions. It is our understanding that 140 replies were received by the Council. This was followed up on 20 September 2006, with a workshop event held in Hallglen Primary School, where residents were invited to attend and submit their preferred views, via sticky dots, on how the money can be spent. 30 residents attended.
A total of 179 sticky dots were appended. 38 sticky dots were recorded against an all age adventure play area (not one of the original seven suggestions, and this appears to be the facilitators’ wording, not the respondents’ collective proposal) at the safeguarded site/adjoining Scotia site, whilst on the other hand, a total of 74 sticky dots were recorded against four alternative uses for this specific area. The safeguarded area was shown only as a small strip running alongside and parallel to Lionthorn Road, no mention was made of the larger open space area to the rear of 46-62 Achray Drive, and Bracklinn Place. Indeed, the houses in Bracklinn Place, and numbers 46- 62 Achray Drive were not occupied at this time. In addition, large sections of the Persimmon and Scotia housing developments were under construction and unoccupied.
The wider Lionthorn area now comprises several thousand residents. The total developer contributions (including interest) is currently believed to be in excess of £350,000. Planning gain contributions, in accordance with the original legal agreement with Callendar Estate, are to be spent on the provision of community facilities or environmental improvements in the Lionthorn area, for the benefit of local residents. This spend need not be restricted to only one project.
3. Aim The aim of the Pinefield Manor Residents’ Group is to object to the use of Lionthorn area planning gain contributions for recreational and/or play facilities, which are less than 50 metres from the edge of any proposed activity zone and the boundary of the nearest property containing a dwelling.
The Group fully supports any positive improvements to the environment and facilities within the wider Lionthorn community, but only where these cause no detriment to people’s quality of life, and do not adversely impact on wildlife and the countryside.
Lionthorn Woods, viewed from Achray Drive
4. Reasons for Opposition The Pinefield Manor Residents’ Group opposes this particular plan on the following grounds:
The proposal is completely unsuitable to adjoin any residential area. The Lionthorn Residents’ Association recognises the concerns of the property ownersadjacent to this proposed development and is therefore opposed to implementation of this plan. The proposed activity area is within 50 metres of the boundary of propertiescontaining dwellings. The proposal comprises play equipment, which intrudes (in terms of height and proximity) and directly overlooks residential properties. The proposal does not reflect residents’ responses (Safeguarded area and Scotia ‘Kickpitch’ area only) There has been no prior consultation for any proposal situated on the open land,adjacent to the Safeguarded area and Scotia Kickpitch area extending south along the boundaries of numerous dwellings. The proposal is on a scale and size, which turns it into a regional visitors’ attraction, as opposed to a local residents’ amenity. The proposal creates a focal point for unruly youths to gather, drink alcohol, raisefires, and behave in an anti-social manner, to the annoyance and harm of local residents. This is perhaps the most serious concern. The proposal adversely impacts on local wildlife, open woodland, and countryside. The proposal adversely affects the privacy and quality of life of local residents. The proposal has been chosen without statistically significant community consultation. The proposal is not fit for the purpose of spending planning gain contributions.
5. Conclusion In view of the strength of objections from all dwellings immediately affected by this development, the Pinefield Manor Residents’ Group seeks your support in opposing the location of this proposal, ensuring that Falkirk Council does not progress it any further, and immediately stops spending public money unnecessarily in respect of this site, when clearly more appropriate locations are nearby, without dwellings within 50 metres.
Appendix A contains Falkirk Council’s Safeguard Sites
Appendix B shows the Lionthorn Safeguard Site.
Appendix C shows the area proposed for development and proximity to residences
Appendix D contains the consultants’ brief presented by Falkirk Council for the proposed development.
Appendix E contains the consultants’ proposal.
View of Lionthorn Woods from Achray Drive
Open land site, which immediately overlooks Achray Drive and Bracklinn Place.
