Councillors seek more information before making decision on Reddingmuirhead homes plan
Falkirk councillors say they want more information on traffic and parking issues before making a decision on a controversial planning application for two new homes in Reddingmuirhead.
The application for planning permission in principle to build on a piece of vacant grassed land on one side of Epworth Gardens received 77 objections, including one from Reddingmuirhead and Wallacestone Community Council.
Although privately owned, the land includes a section that is currently used for public parking and it would need a stopping up order before any development could go ahead.
Neighbours who spoke at a meeting of Falkirk Council’s planning committee said they were particularly concerned about the effect the new homes would have on traffic, parking and road safety in the cul-de-sac.
Greg Falconer and John Jenkins, representing residents of Epworth Gardens, told the committee that while members had visited the site during the day, this did not reflect the parking situation in the evenings and at weekends.
In the older part of the cul-de-sac, Mr Falconer said, many houses do not have driveways and residents have no choice but to park on the street, leading to difficulties for vehicles trying to get through.
He told the meeting that the street should have been built with a turning circle that is kept clear and large vehicles in particular already struggle to get in and out.
Mr Jenkins told the meeting that the grassed area has historically been used as a children’s play area which has been important to the area, in particular for younger children.
Members were told, however, that the land is privately owned, so is not considered to be protected open space.
Councillor Gordon Forrest said that he knows the area well, as he had previously been a delivery driver, and he was very aware that parking is a problem in the evenings and at weekends.
“I have seen it absolute chaos. I have also seen it stacked nose to tail from the very junction right down to the turning circle,” he said.
When questioned by councillors on whether the area had been visited at peak traffic times, officers admitted that council staff had not actually been there at all but had done a desktop assessment.
Members agreed to delay any decision until there was more information about the traffic and parking in particular as well as any planned investment in the playpark.
Planning officers noted that many other requests for more detail would not normally be available when deciding an application for planning permission in principle.
The application was continued to a future meeting.