West end residents vow to fight for under-threat North Kelvin Meadow

May 16 2012 EXCLUSIVE by Emma Smith

North Kelvin meadow Image 1

WEST End residents have vowed to stop luxury homes being built on an award-winning green space.

Developers New City Vision last week applied for permission for a residential development on the North Kelvin Meadow.

The application has not yet been made public but is believed to be for 90 houses with an asking price of up to £600,000 each.

Douglas Peacock, chairman of the North Kelvin Meadow Campaign, said: “We will fight this application every step of the way. All the research clearly shows that local residents do not want this development.

“It will destroy an important community green space and create congestion in an area that is already densely populated.”

Local SNP MSP Sandra White told of her backing for the North Kelvin Meadow as more green spaces are needed in the city.

She said: “They are creating an area where children can play safely in the outdoors. We need more public meetings to see how we can move forward. It would be good if we could reach some sort of an agreement.”

A survey conducted by the North Kelvin Meadow Campaign in December 2010 revealed that 94 per cent of residents opposed a housing development on the land, on the site of the former Clouston Street playing fields.

An online petition to save the Meadow has so far attracted more than 1260 signatures.

Glasgow City Council have previously indicated that NCV are their preferred developers for the site. However, the plans contravene council policy.

Mr Peacock said: “The meadow is a designated green space within the West End Conservation area. City Plan II states that new development should be on brown spaces only.”

Resident Fiona Rintoul said: “These flash pads will be outwith the reach of most locals. It would make more sense to improve existing housing, such as the Wyndford estate.”

A council spokeswoman said: “An application was received on May 8.”