Trees growing on the site of the old Notre Dame convent school in Dumbarton’s West End.
By Richard Ponsonby
West Dunbartonshire Council has a reputation for doing things backside foremost – or mucking them up entirely.
How fair is it then for the planning committee to give builders permission to go ahead with a development of 85 homes on the old Clerkhill convent school site in the West End.
And then impose a formal order to protect trees on and near the site at Brucehill Cliffs even if this does follow a protest by some local residents over the homes plan.
Especially when you did nothing to preserve trees at the building site on the land formerly occupied by the County Buildings at Garshake?
Councillors agreed to the Tree Preservation Order (TPO) to protect trees around Brucehill Cliffs at a planning meeting last Wednesday.
The concerns by local groups they say will see the loss of mature trees along the clifftop and have adverse knock-on effects to the adjacent Havoc meadows nature conservation area.
A ‘Clifftop Coalition’ of community groups in Dumbarton West joined forces to oppose the development and include Dumbarton West Community Action Group (DWCAG), Friends of Havoc Meadows and Friends of Dumbarton Foreshore.
Slate Island Developments and Miller Homes lodged the planning application last year after the site, which is at the former Notre Dame Convent, was bought by brothers Sandy and James Easdale, owners of the McGill’s Buses company and former Rangers FC directors.
Councillor Iain McLaren, who is believed to be quitting his seat on the Council come the May local government elections, requested a TPO in August last year, with a provisional order taking effect on September 28. Legislation requires confirmation of the TPO within six months of this date.
A report prepared by planning officers states that the planning application would require the removal of trees within the area covered TPO.
They say it means their protected status would be a material consideration in the assessment of the application.
It reads: “The TPO includes a mixture of predominantly broadleaved trees, with a significant number of mature and large specimens present.
“The trees form a high quality area of woodland that is prominent in local and wider views, from Havoc Road to the west, Havoc Fields to the south and from within the former convent site.
“Due to their close relationship with the clifftop environment, the trees make a very significant contribution to the visual amenity and landscape character of the area.”
They say the species are indicators of ancient woodland on the site and say their loss could impact on the setting of the nature reserve.
West Dunbartonshire Council refuse to comment to The Democrat.