Post by steg on Jun 19, 2008 9:56:04 GMT -1
THE fate of a controversial aerial adventure course planned for a Glasgow park will be known in less than three weeks.
Scottish Government Ministers will announce by July 9 whether or not they will hold an inquiry into the Go Ape development for Pollok Park... or simply let it go ahead.
Campaigners, who are hoping the Government will intervene and kill off plans for tree-top zip slides, are now preparing to hand over a 5000-name petition to Holyrood next Wednesday.
Save Pollok Park spokesman Bill Fraser said: "We want to go along to leave ministers in no doubt whatsoever of the strength of feeling about this in Glasgow."
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The group will give their list to Deputy First Minister and Govan MSP Nicola Sturgeon.
At a stormy public meeting on the plan, she declared Glasgow City Council's handling of the planning application "woefully inadequate".
But the English firm was given the go-ahead by the council's planning committee in March to create the adventure course in the trees of the North Wood - despite almost 900 objections.
Because the council has a financial interest, MSPs have to review the ruling.
They may decide to hold a local public inquiry or send the application back to the council for them to deal with "as they see fit", which most likely would be to stand by the earlier decision.
Ministers have already asked for additional information from the council, which won't disclose what this was.
Save Pollok Park members have written to ministers with evidence they say backs up their case for the decision to be overturned - including the fact no study into car parking was carried out.
Mr Fraser said: "Obviously we think we have enough evidence to say it was a botched job and the National Trust is saying it has no objections in principle, but it has objections to the site. It made that clear to the council but none of that was mentioned at the hearing."
Protesters say it will ruin the tranquillity and put a strain on parking facilities including toilets and car parking.
But Go Ape says that's not true and 148 letters in support of the course - which will cost £20/25 - were also received.
by Sarah Swain
www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2348303.0.dday_looming_for_go_ape_plan_at_pollok_park.php
Scottish Government Ministers will announce by July 9 whether or not they will hold an inquiry into the Go Ape development for Pollok Park... or simply let it go ahead.
Campaigners, who are hoping the Government will intervene and kill off plans for tree-top zip slides, are now preparing to hand over a 5000-name petition to Holyrood next Wednesday.
Save Pollok Park spokesman Bill Fraser said: "We want to go along to leave ministers in no doubt whatsoever of the strength of feeling about this in Glasgow."
advertisement
The group will give their list to Deputy First Minister and Govan MSP Nicola Sturgeon.
At a stormy public meeting on the plan, she declared Glasgow City Council's handling of the planning application "woefully inadequate".
But the English firm was given the go-ahead by the council's planning committee in March to create the adventure course in the trees of the North Wood - despite almost 900 objections.
Because the council has a financial interest, MSPs have to review the ruling.
They may decide to hold a local public inquiry or send the application back to the council for them to deal with "as they see fit", which most likely would be to stand by the earlier decision.
Ministers have already asked for additional information from the council, which won't disclose what this was.
Save Pollok Park members have written to ministers with evidence they say backs up their case for the decision to be overturned - including the fact no study into car parking was carried out.
Mr Fraser said: "Obviously we think we have enough evidence to say it was a botched job and the National Trust is saying it has no objections in principle, but it has objections to the site. It made that clear to the council but none of that was mentioned at the hearing."
Protesters say it will ruin the tranquillity and put a strain on parking facilities including toilets and car parking.
But Go Ape says that's not true and 148 letters in support of the course - which will cost £20/25 - were also received.
by Sarah Swain
www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2348303.0.dday_looming_for_go_ape_plan_at_pollok_park.php