Falkirk Theme Park

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.

News Letter

Hi and welcome to the Newsletter
from Lionthorn Residents Association


Introducing your Committee

We thought it would be good to introduce the members of the committee.
There should be someone living near you who can be approached with issues regarding the estate and Greenbelt.

Chairperson Alison McNeill 22 Achray Drive
Vice-chair Elaine Whitmarsh 38 Venacher Road
Secretary Lynn Miller 23 Achray Drive
Others Emma Hodgson 5 Ancaster Place
Eimear Stassin 27 Achray Drive
Derek Hampson 3 Strathyre Place
Dougie Bendall 58 Achray Drive
Claire Little 17 Venacher Road

If you have anything you want to discuss or any issues you would like to raise, either speak to one of your committee members
Or e-mail us on lionthorn@hotmail.co.uk

Please check for updates on our blog at: lionthorn.blogspot.com

Greenbelt Update

We have held numerous meetings with Greenbelt and have walked round the estate with the contractor, who is now working their way through an initial 43-point list of tasks. Greenbelt have committed to sending out some communication soon with regards to the current issues over the charging. The committee have worked with Greenbelt to get all Scotia residents a refund on the fees for the 2007 annual management charge, we are still working on the Persimmon & Bett agreements and will keep you updated. If you have any requests or feedback for Greenbelt please put these through the Residents Association.


Council Update

After a discussion with Mr Allan Finlayson of Falkirk Council some of the initial queries have been answered for us –
- Who is responsible for what common ground? Greenbelt will be responsible for all common landscaped areas on the development.
- Adoption of roads by the council for gritting purposes etc. – The programme for this is not until Autumn 2008, the council did offer to carry out road gritting, but this would be at a charge.
- Would the route of the school bus be changed to include the bus stops on the link road – This would be addressed at the same time as the adoption of the roads.
- What was happening around the pond areas with regards to paths, access points, fencing, Life saving equipment etc. – The work is to be carried out according to the original plans with any issues being taken up with the developers or Greenbelt.
- Planning Gain Monies and what is happening with the funds and would there be public consultation – Counsellor John Patrick is currently working on this area.



Other Information

Our initial Residents Association which included the only the Persimmon and Scotia housed have joined with the existing Residents Association from the Bett houses, we see this as the best way forward for all parties concerned and hope to continue to work well together going forward.

We also approached the Barratt and Bryant estate (Glengarry etc.) about joining up with us, but for the time being they have opted to remain separate, but have agreed to work in partnership with us on several issues – Greenbelt, Local Council etc. where there is a benefit to do so.

If anyone has any ideas about any social events that they would put forward then please speak to a committee member about it and we can look at getting something organised in the near future.

Greenbelt Group Action

I would not recommend that we jump on this at this time, as we are currently holding regular meetings with Greenbelt which are very productive.

Please do not support such campaigns.

Greenbelt Group Action website

This website has been set up by Greenbelt Group Action - a group of homeowners from estates across the UK who are working actively to tackle the poor level of service they are receiving from the Greenbelt Group Ltd.

http://www.greenbelt-action.btik.com/

So we are not alone! Apparently they have over 130 complaints from developments countrywide..

Bin Day Caution

There have been reports from some residents in the Lionthorn area that there are strange things happening on bin days. Please be vigilant as a few houses have been broken into - access seems to be via back gardens as screws are removed from gardens gates to gain access

Notes from Meeting 30th July 2007

Newsletter

It was decided that a newsletter should be produced for the residents to give them information about the residents association, to keep them up to date with what we have been doing and to find out what kind of social event they would like us to organise.

Alison will put the letter together
Elaine will compile contact details of R.A. members
Lynn will summerise the meeting with A. Middleton (Greenbelt)
Eimear will put together ideas for social events.
All inputs will be with Alison for the end of the week

Reporting back

Derek - Had managed to obtain a copy of plans from Scotia.
Has requested plans from Persimmons but has not received them.

Contacted the council and they say;
The verges are the responsibly of the developer
That the council offered to grit the roads last winter at the cost of the developer but they were not willing to pay. That 2008 is when the council plans to adopt the roads. 2008 is also when school buses should start to run.
Greenbelt are responsible for the ponds and any fencing or rescue aids.

Derek has agreed to take further with the council the gritting issue for next winter and the Health and safety issues around the pound.

Dougie - had contacted Scotia but had received no response.

However the issue of Scotia residents payment of initial fee has been answered by Alex Middleton. (although it has still to be confirmed in writing)

Emma - Has made several attempts to get the information required from Persimmon, but has yet to be successful. She will keep trying.

Constitution

We have still to draw up a constitution, it was agreed that Jackie would do so.

Neighbourhood watch

Dougie will help us with a contact to set up a Neighbourhood watch.

Walk around with Greenbelt

Will try to arrange this for the 9th August.

Woodland Plans

It would be useful to have a look at proposed plans for the nearby woodlands. Eimear and Derek will speak to their contacts to see if we could do so.

The remaining questionnaires will be collected on Friday.

Next meeting Monday 27th August @ 22 Achray Drive

Notes from meeting with Alex Middleton (Greenbelt MD)

Issues from public meeting

Mr Middleton confirmed that Greenbelt is contracted to take title of all green areas from Persimmons and will carry out maintenance on the land.

He clarified that Greenbelt do not just deal with a residents association, he thinks that they are a good organisation to have, but Greenbelt will deal with any resident who has a concern. He also said that Greenbelt will be involved with public meetings.

Mr Middleton stated that improvements have been put in place in the customer service side of Greenbelt. That Greenbelt uses a contractor to carry out work (on our development the contractor used are owned by Greenbelt).

Mr Middleton was asked if a detailed breakdown of works could be provided and he agreed that it could.

He was asked who took charge of grass pavements and proposed that the council would take charge of these areas and Greenbelt could up cuttings as required. He will speak to roads dept.

The health and safety issue of fencing around pound: he said he will speak to Persimmons and it will be looked into further at the walk around.

He commented that although Greenbelt had the power to up fees after 5 years, that this would only be done with consultation of the residents.

How was the annual billing figure decided

It was decided with the developer and Greenbelt will go back and look at pricing to see if residents are entitled to a reduction.

Initial payment fee

The purpose of this fee is to pay for legal costs and to put together a plan of the areas.
For Scotia home owners the first annual bill to Greenbelt will be zeroed as they have paid. They do not have to pay an initial fee as Scotia and Greenbelt have legal paperwork already in place.
He said that the initial fee should be the same for all properties and will go back to find out what that should be.

Can we appoint a factor
We can change contractor.

Inspections of Play areas pounds and drains

Greenbelt can demonstrate in future that inspections have been carried out and can send details of the inspection to the residents association

Maintenance of Play parks will automatically be carried out if it is a health and safety risk, if there is no risk then residents will be consulted before work is carried out.

A walk around our site will be arranged within the next month, Persimmons, Scotia and residents association members are being asked to attend.