Robroyston Community Council

AGM 6th October 2011

Report by the Chair

The year since our last AGM has seen a number of significant developments affecting Robroyston and your

Community Council has tried, so far as possible, to improve the outcomes or at least to mitigate any potential ill-effects.

We supported the application for change of use conditions at the Retail Park on the grounds that we would like to see a

wider range of shops available locally.  We did, however, object to an application by McDonald’s for 24 hour opening,

preferring to let the existing arrangements operate for a longer period so that neighbouring residents could judge

whether extended hours would cause any further loss of amenity.

Similarly, but on a much larger scale, we did not object to the outline permission granted for a further 1600 homes in the area. 

We did note the concerns expressed by Glendale residents about the impact of the construction phase and we have always

resolved to examine closely the applications for detailed permissions to ensure that the community facilities promised as part

of the development do, in fact, materialise.  We were able to impress our views on all these issues when representatives of

Stewart Milne accepted an invitation to attend one of our meetings, to answer questions, and to address the concerns

 expressed by residents.

There are a number of issues which go on from year to year.  These include establishing doctor and dentist surgeries,

improving broadband speeds, creating a rail halt at Millerston, and the unsatisfactory nature of much of the open space

management in and around our estates.  There are no quick fixes for any of these issues but we continue to be involved in

supporting the efforts of our MSP to make progress on them.  It is likely to be a long haul before we achieve the results we

would like but there is no alternative but to continue to apply pressure where and when we can.

At the turn of the year we distributed a newsletter to every house in our area to keep residents informed about what we are doing. 

In May we held our annual Clean-Up and Fun Day.  Unfortunately, the day turned out to be as wet and miserable as it could possibly

be.  The outside events were a washout but the indoor activities went ahead, albeit with fewer attendees than we might have expected. 

A great deal of hard work went into the preparation, especially by Susan Barclay and Carole Phillip, and while we made a loss on the

day we were still able, thanks to donations by local businesses, to give £1000 to the Marie Curie Big Build appeal.

In May, too, we got the entirely unexpected news that Link Housing Association intended to build 48 flats and houses on land, within

the boundary of East Dunbartonshire but hard against existing houses in Brookfield so that Brookfield Road, currently a quiet cul-de-sac,

would become the only entrance to the site.  Waterhaughs Gardens will also be considerably affected as will many other streets both

within Brookfield and surrounding estates.  Irrespective of the merits of the proposal the original planning application was seriously flawed

in terms of consultation and neighbour notification and had to be withdrawn.  Nevertheless Link immediately submitted a second application

to do exactly the same thing and this was fast-tracked by East Dunbartonshire Council.  The Community Council distributed leaflets to

residents and convened a public meeting on 9th June, attended by over 200 people who were less than assured by the explanations and

answers given by the representatives of Link and East Dunbartonshire Council.  The latter body proceeded quickly to give approval to the

planning application.  It should be noted that despite much talk by EDC about their quasi-judicial role in the planning process and hence

the reluctance of their councillors to speak in public about the application, the Council is itself an interested party since Link will hand over

8 of the dwellings to them for let.  It is also worth adding that, despite the considerable efforts of Paul Martin, MSP, and Bailie Leonard,

Glasgow City Council paid no heed to the objections of the residents before giving approval for access to the site.  Work has now started,

with entrance to the site from Brookfield Drive rather than Brookfield Road, something which was suggested by the residents who were told

that such an entrance was not possible.  Mr Martin is continuing to use Freedom of Information requests to discover the full facts about the

transactions undertaken by Taylor Wimpey, Link Housing and East Dunbartonshire Council concerning the site.

I will not be seeking re-election to the Community Council but I hope that the incoming Council will continue to enjoy the support given to us

by our MSP, our local City councillors, the community Police team and Robroyston Church among many others.  I would also like to record my

thanks to the other Community Council office-bearers and members for their hard work and support over this past year and to wish the

incoming members every success over the year to come.

Ian McGhee

September 2011