Plans for Dumbarton housing recommended for approval despite over 200 objections

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Controversial plans for a Dumbarton housing development are being recommended for approval – despite more than 200 objections from the community.Planning chiefs say proposals for 81 new homes on the site of the former Notre Dame Convent with associated access, landscaping and parking should go ahead.If agreed by councillors next week, the three, four and five-bed houses would be built on land surrounding Craigend House in Cardross Road.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.They say the plans will see the loss of mature trees and have adverse knock-on effects to the adjacent Havoc meadows nature conservation area.It comes weeks after the local authority agreed to grant a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) to the southern edge of the land covering the edge and top area of Brucehill Cliffs.Councillor Iain McLaren has raised concerns over the plans, which are also at the site of the former St Michael’s Primary school, and vowed to present them at the upcoming planning hearing.He said: “Although Wallace’s Cave and the clifftop trees now have some protection, residents remain concerned that the latest proposals still present some risks the area.

I will present these concerns at the meeting of the planning committee on March 30 and urge people to voice their opinions to me, or register to attend the meeting either in person or by Zoom.”Residents have also objected expressing concern over increased noise and disruption, privacy, traffic congestion and claim the development will result in the loss of an area of green space used by the community.As well as