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Bridge of Allan New Town plans hit turbulence

September 3 2012

Bridge of Allan New Town plans hit turbulence
Plans by Graham’s Dairy to build a new town on farmland sandwiched between Bridge of Allan and Causewayhead have provoked a storm of protest from residents - who have bandied together under the ‘Save Bridge of Allan’ banner to thwart it.

The ruckus stems from a proposal of application notice lodged by the dairy business in partnership with house builder MacTaggart and Mickel for 800 homes at Airthrey Green.

Incorporating a public park, allotments, sports pitches, primary school and infrastructure improvements the scheme hasn’t gone unnoticed locally, drawing objections from 600 residents.

Residents fear however that the loss of greenbelt land will negatively impact upon both existing villages, which will also struggle with an increased traffic load.

Commenting on the draft plan, Councillor Campbell said: “Other than wishing to protect the green belt, local amenity and coalescence between Bridge of Allan and Causewayhead, a question mark also hangs over the continuous flooding problems experienced at the Airthrey Kerse site.”
 
“It is equally important, of course, to ensure that Stirling has a Development Plan which is fit for purpose for the next 20 years. Planning officers have put in a tremendous amount of work to date, but we will need to look at alternative solutions that not only meet our future housing and infrastructure needs, but are also acceptable to our local communities.”
The development would merge Bridge of Allan and Causewayhead into one continuous urban area
The development would merge Bridge of Allan and Causewayhead into one continuous urban area

17 Comments

Partick Bateman
#1 Posted by Partick Bateman on 3 Sep 2012 at 17:01 PM
This is a brilliant solution to the ongoing problem of the greenbelt. In these days of everyone owning at least 2 cars per family we should aim to build as many developments as we can on the periphery of dull, old places like Bridge of Allan - maximise your living location and drive to your work. People should be able to buy a nice wee house near the country without having to suffer antagonism from NIMBYs and yoghurt weaving Green Party members. Also - we have an economy to kick start...what better way than building houses on cheap greenbelt land!
Robert Logie
#2 Posted by Robert Logie on 3 Sep 2012 at 22:12 PM
@ Patrick Bateman. Are you actually Jeremy Clarkson?
Bill Simpson
#3 Posted by Bill Simpson on 4 Sep 2012 at 08:59 AM
I would object to that as it looks like the Developer has gone to their local library and loaned out a pattern making book from the 1960's; chosen a nice water colour displayed image, and then stamped it horribly on a flood plain site without any reflection of context. What year are we in again?
Liz Miller
#4 Posted by Liz Miller on 4 Sep 2012 at 09:18 AM
I was born and brought up in Bridge of Allan a good many years ago. I left to join my husband in the forces but returned to the Stirling area. I am disgusted by Patrick Bateman's comments. The village has always been proud of the fact that it was a Burgh on its own and not part of Stirling.
Sandra D
#5 Posted by Sandra D on 4 Sep 2012 at 09:49 AM
Patrick ,are you a complete nana.the land they are proposing to build on is under water for most of the winter ,would you buy a house here and run the risk of flooding and sinking and no im not a nimby or anything like it ,just someone who has lived here all my life and refuses to let anyone take advantage of families who need homes,there are alternative sites without losing green belt
dirige
#6 Posted by dirige on 4 Sep 2012 at 10:11 AM
Disregarding all the other issues, I think that allowing Bridge of Allan and Causewayhead to 'connurbate' wouldn't be of any benefit. Causewayhead is already merged with Stirling and this would ennexe Bridge of Allan, which has a very traditional small town format, into the same built mass
Pam Wilson
#7 Posted by Pam Wilson on 4 Sep 2012 at 10:14 AM
Are you for real Partick?? "dull, old places like Bridge of Allan"! What is wrong with keeping the historic feel of a well loved spa town, which has a eclectic range of residents and not just "NIMBYs and yoghurt weaving Green party members". And the cheap greenbelt land, reason for it being cheap is it's on a flood plain! Seriously who would want to buy on it knowing that.
Neil
#8 Posted by Neil on 4 Sep 2012 at 10:27 AM
Calm down, it reads to me that Parick was being ironic.
Jimbob Tanktop
#9 Posted by Jimbob Tanktop on 4 Sep 2012 at 17:20 PM
'INTERNET IRONY BYPASS "A COMPLETE SUCCESS" IN 90% OF CASES'
wonky
#10 Posted by wonky on 4 Sep 2012 at 20:14 PM
Neil: exactly mate.

Sometimes me thinks people just WANT to be offended.
Sandra D
#11 Posted by Sandra D on 4 Sep 2012 at 21:45 PM
i really hope he was
Partick Bateman
#12 Posted by Partick Bateman on 5 Sep 2012 at 11:55 AM
Sorry -I didnt realise this was site was in a flood plain - this changes everything. Not only would a 3m high bund around the perimeter stop the rising floodwater, it would also help to isolate the exclusive development from the obviously hostile eclectic range of local people! Brilliant - the new residents can commute to the real cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow to work, occasionally stopping at an out of town retail park to stock up on groceries near Stirling on their way home and then pass through a fortified earthwork without ever having to even trouble the locals of Bridge of Allan. Its a win-win situation all round, developers make a tidy profit, architects get some work and all the locals of Bridge of Alan lose is their proud sense of isolation and a bit of grass which floods in the winter!
gary mcfly
#13 Posted by gary mcfly on 5 Sep 2012 at 13:49 PM
oooh the banter. brilliant.
dandelion
#14 Posted by dandelion on 5 Sep 2012 at 15:55 PM
no one has managed so far to create the natural feel of a time evolved settlement with any success but I'm sure Prince Charles would like this Architectural schmultz proposal obviously Macmic driven.
walt disney
#15 Posted by walt disney on 5 Sep 2012 at 17:05 PM
BofA hasn't been the same since Clive's deli closed down. I'd happily agree to more houses so long as Clive reopened.
stacey
#16 Posted by stacey on 6 Sep 2012 at 14:10 PM
*Looks* a lot like New Urbanism.

http://www.tornagrain-newtown.co.uk/Illustrations.asp

I wonder if the developers might yet still be influenced by some of this years Saltire Award winning designs...

http://bbc.in/NUOxZS
Ian Anderson
#17 Posted by Ian Anderson on 8 Oct 2012 at 15:00 PM
The 800 houses project have been refused planning permission and so far is abandoned!!
However the road from the Raploch to the Uni still has the go ahead.

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