An eight-year fight to stop the development of a popular green space will reach a crucial stage tomorrow as local politicians visit the site before deciding its future.
Proposals have been made to sell off the land at North Kelvin Meadow in Glasgow to build 90 houses.
But the Children’s Wood Group has asked the council to keep the land as it is a wild green space for community use. The comedian Frankie Boyle is among those who have campaigned to save the park in the past.
Following a site visit at 9.15am tomorrow, Glasgow Council’s Planning Committee will decide what happens to the site.
One scenario is members could approve both and let a meeting of full council make a final decision.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has asked for a report on the matter and may intervene if the council decides to sell the land off for housing.
Ian Black will deliver a presentation at the hearing on behalf of North Kelvin Meadow campaign group.
Mr Black lives in Sanda Street and organised the original planting of trees and grass back in 1994.
He said: “Needless to say this is a crucial time for the land and its future. We feel over this last eight years in particular we’ve made a very strong case for the land to remain as it is and not get destroyed.
“Council and government policy backs that up but alas sometimes councils don’t follow their own policy.”
Douglas Peacock, another resident who started the community organisation and gave the name North Kelvin Meadow to the land in October 2008, said: “It’s been a David versus Goliath battle this last eight years and it really shouldn’t have been as what North Kelvin Meadow is about is the health and wellbeing of the people, especially young kids, at no cost to the taxpayer other than forgoing the sale price of the land which is a short-term fix to a budget problem and isn’t backed by planning policy.”
An email issued by campaigners invites interested parties to organised demonstrations during the site visit and when the planning committee is sitting.
It states: “This will be our only chance to show the planning committee the land and how valued and loved the space is to this community and that we have a plan for its future.”
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