As Bo’ness housing plan is rejected, councillor claims Local Plan may as well be “toilet paper”

Upper Braes councillor John McLuckie told the Planning Committee that he was in favour of allowing 12 new homes to be built on land at North Bank Farm. The small area is next to a site that was controversially included in Falkirk’s new Local Development Plan by the Scottish Government reporter.

Mr McLuckie said this meant the area would soon have 200 new Miller Homes and argued they would rather overlook new houses than an “eyesore of a barn”.

However, the committee heard from planning officers that discussions with Miller Homes were still ongoing and “by no means concluded”.

Bo’ness councillor Lynn Munro pointed out that 650 homes were soon to be built in Bo’ness and that members should remember this was green belt land. She backed Bo’ness Community Council’s stance, agreeing there was not enough detail in the plans.

Several councillors supported Cllr Munro, saying the decision should wait until the Miller site was determined.

Councillor James Kerr said planning permission in principle should be granted as “the Miller Homes are happening”.

In summing up, Cllr McLuckie said: “What is the local plan to the people who objected to Gilston? To the people in Larbert? To the people who are getting houses in Maddiston? 

“The best place for the local plan would be to use it for recycling into Andrex toilet roll, and wipe your a**e with it!” he said.

After a vote, the committee said no to the plans.