Residents ‘hug' bowling green in protest against planned flats
Residents near a bowling green have formed a 120-person chain 'hugging' the space as they fight plans to build a block of flats on it.
Scores of residents in Mount Florida, Glasgow, are opposing proposals to replace it with 32 apartments.
The developer is attempting to turn what it claims is 'brownfield' land into housing.
But residents say the grass pitch is the only greenery accessible to them.
'Clinging on'
On Saturday, they formed a chain to 'hug' the bowling green and in a protest aimed at showing they were 'clinging' on to it.
'We are clinging on to this green space, desperately trying,' said Nicola Smith, chairman of the Mount Florida Community Trust.
She is leading the local resistance to the proposals.
'It's right in the heart of our community, right in front of our eyes,' Ms Smith said. 'It's just very, very sad that it's not available to the community.
'Are you out of your mind to build on that space? It's our only green area. There are other places that could be built on, even within the boundaries of Mount Florida.
'We want access to this. The argument that we didn't have access to it before because it was privately owned, frankly, does not hold water, as it doesn't mean that we can't be entitled to having access to it now.'
'If it's lost, it's lost forever'
The green was formerly used by a bowling club which closed because of a shortage of members.
In 2020, plans for 40 homes on the site were rejected by planning officials.
However, Noah Management and Developments has made a new application for a block of flats which has been recommended for approval by Glasgow city council planning officers.
The application, which received 125 letters of support, includes a publicly accessible community space, spanning over half the existing site, as well as a 'community facility'.
The local authority received 249 objections to the application.
'If it's lost, it's lost forever,' Ms Smith said. 'Nobody pulls down buildings to reinstate a park, so we are desperately trying to keep this space green.
'When word started to get out that the club was in difficulties, we asked if we could negotiate with them to look into ways to purchase the site.
'But all of those applications were denied. The developer went ahead and bought the site. They knew that there was a strong community wish to keep that space.
'But they pressed ahead and bought it anyway. It was essentially a hostile act against the community because we had demonstrated our need and enthusiasm to keep this space.'
'Much needed housing'
Noah Management and Developments was approached for comment.
The firm has previously said the apartments would provide ' much needed housing ' which will 'enable the funding and the creation of a significant community open space and community hub occupying 50 per cent of the site, to be gifted at no cost to the local community'.
The firm added: 'The former club grounds and clubhouse have now been vacant for over five years and present a risk of continued deterioration and vandalism whilst also encouraging anti-social behaviour on the site.'
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