Latest news with #MountFloridaCommunityTrust
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
We formed human shield to save Scots special building – developers would be out of their minds to cross us
Their goal is to get hold of the greenery and develop it not into a housing scheme PLANNING ROW We formed human shield to save Scots special building – developers would be out of their minds to cross us Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PICTURES show people forming a massive ring to 'hug' a local bowling club - to protect the 'only green space' in the area from developers. More than 120 residents 'hugged' the club in Glasgow on Saturday (3 May) to show their outrage at a proposal to build flats on the site. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Mount Florida residents form a 'hug' ring around local bowling club on Carmunnock Road Credit: SWNS Noah Management and Developments is bidding to transform what they claim is a brownfield by building 32 flats. However, locals insist that the grass pitch is the only greenery accessible to them and they would like to use it. Nicola Smith is the chair of the directors at Mount Florida Community Trust, which was set up to fight this proposal. She said: 'It's right in the heart of our community, right in front of our eyes. '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.' After the bowling club closed due to insufficient numbers, the battle for the site started in 2020, when the first plan was lodged for 40 homes on the Southside area. I'm stuck in planning row after ONE neighbour complained about my shed - I've hired a CRANE to prove I've broken no laws This was rejected by planning officials, along with an appeal. But now, the developer submitted a set of new documents, which are due to go before the committee and are recommended for approval. 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'. Glasgow City Council also received 249 objections to this bid as members to the group say half of the field is 'not enough'. Nicola explained: 'If it's lost, it's lost forever. '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 really 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.' Their goal is to get hold of the greenery and develop it not into a housing scheme but something that residents can use, especially since the site is near a school. The Mount Florida local explained that the lengthy planning dispute is draining but they will not give up. She said the process feels like the odds are stacked against them but added: 'We are clinging on to this green space, desperately trying. 'It's recognised that Mount Florida is short of green space, and it's not as though there is anywhere else in the area that we could go. 'This is a whole conversation that should not have gotten this far because after the last planning application was rejected, the community had resoundingly demonstrated the need for this space. 'We live here, this is going to influence the whole feel of our environment forever. 'So, we have motivation, we have to keep finding the energy to fight.' Noah Management and Developments has been contacted for comment.
Glasgow Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Council update on Glasgow flats plan after protest
Noah Developments wants to provide 32 homes at Mount Florida bowling club, but its proposal has sparked opposition in the community. Campaigners, who surrounded the club on Saturday to show their support for 'one of Mount Florida's only remaining green spaces', will now have a chance to address the committee. The developers and supporters of the project will also have an opportunity to speak. Noah's plans went before councillors on Glasgow's planning committee this morning. Committee chairman Cllr Ken Andrew, SNP, proposed a hearing 'given the amount of interest in this, both positive and negative'. READ NEXT: ScotRail peak fares to be scrapped in major change READ NEXT: 'I don't sit down to it': Brave woman defies odds to battle life-limiting condition However, Cllr Imran Alam, Labour, suggested councillors should make a decision today (Tuesday). He said: 'I personally think we have enough information to make a decision today.' There were five votes for a hearing and three against. The council received 280 objections to Noah's plans and 130 letters of support. Under Noah's proposal, the eastern half of the site would become publicly accessible open space including a 'retained and refurbished' clubhouse. A legal agreement is planned to ensure public access is maintained. The developers have said it intends to hand the open space and clubhouse to a community organisation to run but will maintain it itself if no group comes forward. But Mount Florida Community Trust, which was formed by residents in 2019 with the aim of purchasing the site, wants to retain all of the 'irreplaceable' green space. It said over 120 residents gathered to 'hug' the club on Saturday, demonstrating how much the community values the land. After the meeting, Cllr Holly Bruce, Greens, whose Langside ward includes Mount Florida, said: 'This housing development does not meet the social or environmental needs of the Mount Florida community.' She said that 800 people signed a petition in support of keeping the green space in its entirety, adding: 'This development will mean a large loss of green space in a community that is already deficient in quality and accessible green space, it even goes against the council's own open space strategy.' Cllr Bruce also believes the developers would be building 'even more unaffordable housing during a housing emergency'. 'Rents in Mount Florida are through the roof and social housing waiting lists are ridiculously long,' she added. 'Expensive, deluxe housing is not what Glasgow is crying out for.' Council planners have recommended the project can be approved, stating it would bring a 'derelict brownfield site back into active use'. It is Noah's second attempt to secure planning permission after an original proposal for 40 homes was rejected in 2020. An appeal to the Scottish Government failed too. The city's planning committee did give the green light for Mount Florida Community Trust's plan for the site, which included retaining the clubhouse and southern bowling green and installing a tennis court and fitness area. But Noah owns the land and the trust's planning permission has now expired. Members voted to close the bowling club, founded in 1909, at the end of the 2019 season due to 'falling membership numbers'. Noah has said it took on board feedback from its failed appeal, resulting in a scaled back development and retention of the clubhouse. It believes the redevelopment would provide 'much needed housing', which will 'enable the funding and the creation of a significant community open space and community hub occupying 50% of the site, to be gifted at no cost to the local community'. In a report to councillors, planners stated SportScotland has advised there is 'a clear excess of provision' of bowling greens in the area and the loss of the facility is accepted. They add the proposed agreement will ensure 'ongoing public access to the open space, clubhouse and maintenance of the space'.
Telegraph
06-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
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.'
