Green Belt Scotland
A swathe of greenbelt land in Scotland south of Glasgow is to be sold off by one of the country's largest councils, despite pleas from thousands of residents to safeguard the natural resource from housing developers.
The greenbelt land for sale in Scotland is available on the open market, bringing to an unsuccessful end a year-long battle by campaigners to save Colonsay Field in South Lanarkshire.
It is believed the local authority stands to raise around £7m by allowing around 100 houses to be sited on the land by developers.
The sale represents the latest instance of greenbelt land being sacrificed to developers as a consequence of increasing demand for new housing.
The local authority says the money from the sale will be used for improvements to the park but protesters point out much of it will go towards reducing yet further green space courtesy of improved car parking facilities.
The field will today be declared surplus by South Lanarkshire Council's executive committee. It will subsequently be offered for sale on the open market.
The report, which will go before councillors this morning, states: "The estimated cost of implementing the country park masterplan investment recommendations is £7m. The capital receipt to be realised from the disposal of part of Colonsay Fields for residential development will fund these improvements. Any receipts generated in excess of £7m will be reinvested through the council's general services capital programme."
Date: Wednesday 11th October, 2006
