The purpose of this Technical Note is to make Elected Members aware that the Waterside and Rosebank Greenspace Improvement Plan (GIP) has been finalised and will now be made publicly available.
Background
The development of an Additional Support Needs (ASN) School to be located on land at Waterside Road and Bankhead Road was agreed at a special meeting of the Council on the 30th of March 2021 (TP/ED/20/0576). The area identified for the school was a multi-functional recreational greenspace, used for sports such as football, walking, socialising and community events. The Open Space Audit (2019) identified that the development, measuring approximately 1.74ha, would result in a shortfall of Open Space supply of -1.62ha, or -0.08ha/ 1000 population of parks and gardens within the wider settlement of Kirkintilloch.
The planning application for the ASN School was granted subject to a legal agreement requiring the provision of a financial contribution towards the improvement of play facilities and other local greenspaces in the local area. The value of the financial contribution is £150,000. Paragraph 1.11 of the Report of Handling for application TP/ED/20/0576 states that the upgrades to the play area and delivery of projects would be undertaken through the preparation of a greenspace improvement plan (GIP).
The report to PNCA Committee on ‘Preparation of the new Greenspace Strategy’ in May 2021 (PNCA/034/21/JW) outlined that the GIP would be developed alongside the emerging Greenspace Strategy.
Consultation with the communities of Waterside and Rosebank was undertaken between 2 August and 28 September 2021, and aimed to:
- Identify the priorities of local residents for the improvement of their greenspace.
- Establish if current provision was sufficient.
- Wherever possible, identify solutions to gaps in provision.
- Identify priority greenspace enhancement projects for Waterside, which also serve residents of Rosebank.
Due to restrictions relating to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, consultation events were held online and survey forms were hosted digitally on the Council website. Due to difficulties faced by some participants when completing the online survey, 20 paper copies of the survey were provided to a representative of Waterside Community Council for local distribution. Full details of the consultation arrangements are outlined in the Waterside and Rosebank Greenspace Improvement Plan (Appendix 1). A full summary of all responses received can be found in the Waterside and Rosebank Greenspace Improvement Plan Report of Consultation (Appendix 1, Annex B). The Strategy has undergone screening through submission to the Consultation Authority and will not require Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) (Appendix 2).
The most commonly received comments regarding greenspace related to:
- The cumulative loss of accessible greenspace surrounding the settlement of Waterside due to development.
- Provision of formal play opportunities for children and young people.
- Provision of hanging out opportunities for young people.
- Biodiversity and space for nature in the community and surrounding areas.
- Maintenance and safety of open spaces and greenspaces, with concerns regarding litter and dog fouling.
Feedback provided during the consultation has guided the development of four priority outcomes to be actioned by the GIP. These are:
- The installation of a new formal play facility on a greenspace at Taig Gardens, meeting the requirement to upgrade the Taig Gardens play area as agreed as part of the legal agreement for the development of the ASN School.
- Improvements to a section of path between Moss Road and Alexander Place.
- A feasibility study for upgrades to the path along the Luggie Water. Funding to undertake works identified by the study to be confirmed subject to allocation of external funding awards.
- Installation of nature interpretation to enhance areas of biodiversity interest.
The four priority outcomes will be implemented during the 2022/23 financial year, utilising the financial contribution of £150,000 provided by the developer of the ASN School.