5.2 Tourism |
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5.2.1 In
recent years, the tourism and leisure sector has grown significantly and it is
in the interest of the
5.2.2 In
a. the
b. the Campsie Fells and Kilpatrick Hills
c. the
d. the Antonine Wall and Roman remains
e. access to
f. the Milngavie Reservoirs.
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TO 1 Tourism Strategy The Council has prepared a Tourism Strategy and Action Plan. Improved information and accommodation facilities will be encouraged and implemented as appropriate by the Council in partnership with other agencies and the private sector. Developments which build on the area’s main tourist assets will be encouraged, particularly in the following areas: a.
the b. the Campsie Fells and Clachan of Campsie, c.
the d. the Antonine Wall and Roman remains, and e.
f. the Milngavie Reservoirs
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TO 2 Tourism Developments
The Council will support tourist developments especially along the Campsie Tourist Corridor or associated with the area’s tourist assets. All proposals should:
a. where appropriate, be located in or at the edge of existing town centres,
b. where located outwith town centres, be situated along main tourist routes rather than in isolated locations,
c. have regard to the plan’s policies which protect the natural and built environment,
d. provide high quality, facilities accessible for all abilities, and
e. take account of traffic and parking, and be accessible by a variety of transport modes, other than the car.
All subject to the considerations set down in policies TO 3 and TO 4 below.
5.2.3 Tourism covers a wide remit of activities and there is a clear overlap between genuine tourist facilities and those leisure developments which meet local needs (also addressed in the ‘Leisure’ section of this Plan).
5.2.4 The policies in this plan provide the means by which applications for tourist related developments will be considered, with the principal planning aims being to ensure they are appropriately located and developed to a high standard of design.
5.2.5 Tourism developments can however be proposed in areas of high scenic value, or in sensitive green belt areas which must be protected from adverse impact. Major new developments, especially for accommodation, should therefore be guided to accessible urban areas which have the best capacity to support new developments. This will also make best use of the transportation network, reducing the need to travel (especially reducing the use of the private car) and strengthening the town centres.
5.2.6 Where development is proposed in the countryside it must respect the character of the countryside whilst not destroying the assets on which its attractiveness depends. New tourist accommodation and related facilities are already proposed at:
a. Antermony Loch - Development of tourist accommodation in chalets, visitor interpretation facilities and associated tourist activities, and
b. South Braes, Lennoxtown - Development of tourist accommodation in chalets and visitor interpretation facilities.
5.2.7 It is worth noting that the Use Classes Order permits the limited use of houses (not including flats) as a bed and breakfast or guest house. The use is permitted for this purpose, to a maximum of one bedroom where the house has less than four bedrooms, and a maximum of two bedrooms where the house has four or more bedrooms.
TO 3 Visitor Attractions and Accommodation
The Council will generally support the development of additional visitor attractions and accommodation in accordance with the policy below, particularly where:
a. there is no significant adverse impact on the environment;
b. the facility is accessible by a choice of means of transport,
c. parking and access standards are met, and
d. there is a specific locational need.
In addition, the following will particularly be applicable to proposals for accommodation:
Major hotels such as those with conference and banqueting facilities should be directed to areas zoned for commercial or leisure purposes, especially in or around town centres and on major transport corridors in the urban area.
In residential areas, development of new, or conversion of existing houses to small hotels or boarding houses will be permitted if the following criteria are met:
a. it is in character with its surroundings in terms of siting, scale, design, materials and landscaping, and
b. it has no adverse effects on the surrounding residential amenity.
Outwith the urban areas, (see also policy GB 2E) new tourist accommodation developments will be sympathetically considered if the following criteria can be met:
a. where there is a specific locational need, e.g. where there is a tourist attraction at the site,
b. if it is an extension to an established tourist accommodation complex (evidence may be required which backs up the vibrant nature and viability of the existing complex),
c. where there are no existing non-tourist properties capable of being converted, and
d. the facility is within easy reach of the main tourist transport corridors.
Conversion of redundant farm buildings to tourist accommodation will be sympathetically considered if the criteria set out in the green belt policy GB 2F can be met.
Proposals for caravan and chalet sites will be considered against the following criteria:
a. new sites should be effectively planned and screened so as not to be visually intrusive, and
b. small sites will be sympathetically considered where:
i they will not be unduly intrusive, and
ii they satisfy a genuine need for provision that cannot be met elsewhere in the urban areas.
Planning permission for tourist accommodation within the countryside and green belt areas may be granted subject to a Section 75 agreement to ensure that buildings do not convert to mainstream residential use. The agreement is likely to restrict the occupancy of units to short term holiday lets (of not longer than eight weeks to any one party), and prevent re-letting to the same party within six months of the first let terminating.
Caretaker accommodation may be permitted where the scale of the use justifies a full-time presence on site (business plan justification may be required) and where living space is in balance with the requirements of the operation. A Section 75 Agreement may be required to link its occupancy to the operation of the tourism business.
The
5.2.8
The Millennium Link project has removed all obstructions to navigation along
the Forth and Clyde and
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TO 4A The The Council will work in partnership with other agencies, riparian landowners, adjacent local authorities, private developers and particularly British Waterways to achieve on-going improvements to the environment of the Canal corridor and the potential developments identified in the table below, subject to the terms of policy TO 4B below: |
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1. Westerton |
Establish picnicking and leisure facilities |
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2.
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Extension of water based leisure/recreational facilities on the south bank of the Canal and related to the Sports Centre e.g. boat landing facilities, bike & boat hire |
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3. Cadder, Bishopbriggs |
Promotion of recreational and heritage related use particularly in relation to the archaeology of the area Reuse of the derelict listed building Cadder Mill for residential or canal related use |
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4.
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Development including, a small basin with off-line mooring and picnicking facilities in the south west quadrant Development including picnicking facilities in the south-west quadrant. It should be noted that this would be limited and access would need to be upgraded. |
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5. Southbank Kirkintilloch |
Boat hire, moorings, slipway, marina and other canal related leisure and retail development along the Canal frontage. See proposals for Southbank in Schedule UC 1A. The Council shall produce Design Guidance for the Canal frontage development at this locale. Pedestrian Link Bridge across the Canal Enhancement of canalside environment between Southbank and Townhead, including consideration of the conversion of the redundant electricity transformer station for a productive use. |
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6. Barleybank, Kirkintilloch |
Canal cruising base and community facilities. This may be encompassed within the Kirkintilloch’s Initiative. |
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7. Waverly Park/Hillhead, Kirkintilloch |
Leisure/Tourism related development on the south- east quadrant with overnight moorings adjacent in the existing basin. |
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8. Twechar |
Water sports and leisure/tourist facilities including woodland walks and picnicking facilities. Enhancement of the Old Bridge seating area. Mooring facilities including freight moorings |
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There may be other possible development sites along the canal corridor. It is likely however that these would be small scale and low key leisure related opportunities. In general towpath improvements and access links, particularly to heritage sites, would be welcomed.
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TO 4B Forth and Clyde Canal Related Developments
Tourist and leisure developments along the Forth and Clyde Canal will be sympathetically considered, particularly in Kirkintilloch Town Centre, providing that they:
a. do not have an adverse impact on the Canal or green belt,
b. do not provide obstructions to navigation on the Canal or to its potential for operational and commercial freight use,
c. safeguard the historic, landscape and nature conservation interests of the Canal, and
d. accord with the main principles set out in the Forth and Clyde Canal Local Plan.
Developments close to the banks of the Canal must take full cognisance of the presence of the Canal in terms of design and the allowance of access, where appropriate, to the Canal banks.
5.2.9 The Council believes that the Campsie Fells, including Clachan of Campsie, have potential for increased visitor attraction. The Fells, along with the Kilpatrick Hills, are recognised in the Structure Plan as Regional Scenic Areas. The Fells are promoted in the Structure Plan for designation as a Regional Park and as a Tourism Development Area where tourist related developments will be supportive of the Metropolitan Development Strategy. The Council supports these designations.
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TO 4C Campsie Fells, Clachan of Campsie and the Kilpatrick Hills The Council will encourage increased visitor attractions in the Campsie Fells, where appropriate to its character, biodiversity and other local planning considerations. The Council will particularly support, and will implement with its partners: a. designation of the Campsie Fells as a Regional Park in order to properly promote, provide for and manage the area’s visitor potential, b. improved visitor facilities in the villages along the Campsie Corridor, c. a specific project to improve facilities at Clachan of Campsie, including additional craft units, a visitor centre, an improved and better enclosed village square, picnic facilities, better and additional car parking, upgrading of Crosshouse Road and strengthened landscaping to define the village envelope (see also Urban Capacity Schedule UC 2D), and d. improved access to the Campsie Fells and the Kilpatrick Hills for hill walking.
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5.2.10 The West Highland Way which stretches from Milngavie to Fort William is one of Scotland’s foremost and most popular walking routes. It attracts both day trippers walking part of the route as well as walkers doing the whole route. The starting point, being in Milngavie provides commercial support for the town centre and there is potential for improved information facilities at the start point and improvements to the route itself.
5.2.11 The Council will generally support well designed and located facilities which support the West Highland Way. The Council is preparing an Access Strategy (see Transport Policy TRANS 2) which will promote improvements (including route improvements and signage) to the whole access network to the benefit of leisure and tourism.
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TO 4D West Highland Way and Access Networks
The Council will continue to support improvements to the access network, and in particular the West Highland Way.
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5.2.12 East Dunbartonshire has a wealth of heritage remains, particularly relating to Roman remains and especially the Antonine Wall and Roman Bath House in Bearsden. There is opportunity to attract visitors to the area to share this heritage wealth. Improved facilities and interpretation will however be needed if people are to be attracted.
TO 4E Antonine Wall and Roman remains
The Council will promote and support proposals to improve public access to and interpretation of, the Antonine Wall and the significant Roman remains which stretch across East Dunbartonshire, subject to suitable protection of the archaeological remains and impact on the green belt.
5.2.13 Mugdock Country Park is physically located outwith East Dunbartonshire, however as it adjoins the Council area, and is primarily used by East Dunbartonshire residents, it is a very important local facility. East Dunbartonshire Council continues to be the main funder of the Park. There is potential within the plan area for increased facilities to support the asset of the Park.
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TO 4F The Council will support sensitively designed access and tourist development proposals which increase the attractiveness of Mugdock Country Park to visitors from East Dunbartonshire and beyond.
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5.2.14 Major redevelopment works are to take place at the Milngavie Reservoir complex. This will alter some parts of the complex and have some short term access implications. However it is also an opportunity to reassess the value of the complex and promote tourism and leisure uses (see also HE 6 and NE 5B).
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TO 4G Milngavie Reservoir Complex
The Council shall work in partnership with Scottish Water and the Community in writing and implementing a Conservation and Recreation Plan for the Milngavie Reservoirs. It is envisaged that this will identify appropriate tourism and leisure related uses which will protect and enhance the reservoirs.
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TO 5 Signs for Tourist Development
The provision of signs for visitor attractions will be encouraged providing that they generally comply with the standards in policy DQ2E, the Guidance Note on Advertisement Control and the additional guidance contained in the ‘Tourist Signposting Policy’ for the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board.
5.2.15 The Council will also make the most of opportunities to enhance its own visitor and leisure facilities, such as museums and galleries. Proposals for facilities to support the tourism assets of East Dunbartonshire will therefore generally be supported. It is important that visitors have adequate information to enable them to take full advantage of the assets East Dunbartonshire has to offer. To this end the Council will take a lead in developing an information network at 23 sites of visitor interest across East Dunbartonshire and will encourage the provision of appropriately designed signs and information on the attractions of the area
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TO 6 Visitor Interpretation Network The Council will develop in partnership with the Tourist Board a Visitor Interpretation Network to provide tourists with appropriate information at key locations throughout East Dunbartonshire. |