
SAVE GILLIES HILL
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Letter from Save Gillies Hill to Stirling
Council re Paterson Appeal
Stirling Council Planning Department Teith House Kerse
Road Stirling FK7 7QA Attention: Jane
Brooks-Burnett-Senior Planning Manager
November 24, 2020 Dear Jane,
Murrayshall Quarry-Planning Appeal. The members of Save
Gillies Hill, Cambusbarron Community Council, the residents of
Cambusbarron, Torbrex. St Ninians, Kings Park and the general public
of Stirling are disappointed that Paterson wish to reactivate a
quarry which has been dormant for 24 years and which will have a
devastating impact on the environment, health, safety and welfare of
all residents in Stirling. We cannot emphasise enough what
on-going and long term damage quarrying and the transportation of
goods will cause for a lot of years to come while the Government and
Councils are attempting to meet a new and improved environment for
all. Approving the new access would be the catalyst to the
reactivation of the quarry thus condemning Stirling to the loss of a
very important ‘lung’ for the city. By destroying 28 hectares (69
acres) of woodland which absorbs 140 of tonnes of CO2 every year we
are condemning the city to an unhealthy environment for the next 70
years. Add a further 100 tonnes of CO2 each year which will be
created by the working and transportation of product from the
quarry. All figures are averaged and based on data given by the
Government and interested parties. Stirling Council’s own
Sustainable Development Strategy aims ‘to create thriving, vibrant,
sustainable communities which will improve everyone’s quality of
life’ The Environment Strategy for Scotland clearly identifies
the areas that the Council should be tackling now for our future and
wellbeing. Any reactivation of the quarry will certainly exacerbate
all areas of the environment that has been mentioned to address.
Scotland’s Road Safety Framework 2020 Chapter Six emphasises the
dangers for children and young people on the roads. The proposed
route that Paterson wish to use for the transportation of goods is
not only through residential areas and around the Kings Park but
more importantly it is also a main route for hundreds of
schoolchildren making their way to and from Stirling High School and
St Ninians Primary School, ‘an accident waiting to happen’. We
respectfully suggest that the reactivation of the quarry cannot meet
the new legislative targets and strategy set by the Scottish
Government for Councils to address on a raft of environmental
issues. The reactivation of the quarry and transportation of
goods to and fro totally undermines and prohibits the Government and
Councils Environmental Strategy from being achieved. Approval will
expose and condemn the citizens of Stirling to an inferior
environment for at least 70 years when we consider the time left to
quarry and the time for 69 acres of woodland to grow. Quarrying
cannot avoid the increase in destructive and harmful environmental
issues and will trigger the escalation of CO2 emissions, air
pollution, noise, risk to schoolchildren and road users. Yours
Sincerely, Iain Munro. Chair & Treasurer SAVE
GILLIES HILL
Another battle won but no doubt the war will still go on and we
will be prepared to meet the challenge again.
Copy of Letter to Stirling Planning & Stirling Observer.
Save
Gillies Hill’s campaigners continue their fight in attempting to
save the woodlands around Cambusbarron which are in danger of being
destroyed if quarrying is allowed to be revived. As well as the
destruction of the hill this campaign again highlights the dreadful
harm that transporting the goods through our city roads to and from
the quarry could cause. The Reporter, Scottish Government,
scuppered the idea of quarrying to be allowed as the Polmaise Road
from the quarry to the Torbrex Bridge was deemed unsuitable. This
however has not stopped Patersons, who wish to quarry at
Murrayshall, from applying for a new access plus other amendments
suggesting their proposals mitigate the concerns that the Reporter
highlighted. What has not been addressed if the quarry gets the
green light is the problems the city will be facing, as the
transportation of goods to and from the quarry will be via POLMAISE
ROAD, KINGS PARK ROAD (historic Victorian quarter, conservation
area), QUEENS ROAD, DUMBARTON ROAD, RAPLOCH ROAD, A84 or WEAVER ROW,
BORESTONE CRESCENT and GLASGOW ROAD, A872. We respectfully suggest
that if the Reporter found the short journey from the quarry to the
Torbrex Bridge unsuitable surely the proposed route/s from the
bridge through the city are totally unacceptable. Our new
campaign needs the residents and visitors to Stirling to realise the
serious implications of 30/40 tonne HGV’s running continuously
through sensitive areas for fifteen to twenty years. A
substantial increase in CO2 emissions in our local environment. A
detrimental impact on our Health and Wellbeing. A serious risk of
accidents in areas of heavy footfall especially around school routes
and the Kings Park which is used every day by residents and visitors
and which holds numerous major events throughout the year. The
detrimental effect on homes as relentless HGV’s run by and which
could possibly devalue them. Our previous campaign had 5466
signatories which are still valid today and will be submitted again
to Stirling Council along with our new campaign which already has
almost 500 signatures since we launched on Monday 19th November.
Please visit Save Gillies Hill Facebook and add your name to our
campaign. Iain Munro. Chair-Save Gillies Hill.
REPLY TO ABOVE LETTER
Planning & Building Standards
Stirling Council Teith House, Kerse Road, Stirling FK7 7QA
Senior Manager: Drew
Leslie Tel:
01786 233672 Email:
planning@stirling.gov.uk Date:
31 July 2020
Save Gillies Hill Per Mr Iain Munro Dear Sir/Madam
Creation of a new access track from Polmaise Road to the south
eastern corner of Murrayshall Quarry, settlement ponds along the
line of the new access track, soil bunds, a public car park and a
segregated woodland footpath running parallel to Polmaise Road,
at Murrayshall Quarry, Polmaise Road To Carron Reservoir, Stirling,
, - 18/00735/FUL I refer to your written comments on
the above application and am writing to let you know that after
considering the proposals, your letter and other comments received,
the Council has made a decision to Refuse the application.
Details of the Decision and Report of Handling (if applicable) for
this application can be viewed online at
http://pabs.stirling.gov.uk/online-applications. The
Report of Handling outlines the assessment of this application
including consideration of your comments. If you wish to
discuss the decision, please telephone the office first to arrange
an appointment to make sure that the relevant Officer is available.
Thank you for your comments and interest in this application.
Yours faithfully Jane Brooks-Burnett Senior
Planning Officer
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HERE WE GO AGAIN
Important Notice to all Stirling Citizens.
Petition to protect your Health, Safety and
Wellbeing.
Please send a message directly to Stirling Council Planning Department
opposing a new access road at Murrayshall Quarry, Cambusbarron which in
turn, will in all probability allow the quarry to be reactivated inflicting
a long term damaging effect on all residents and visitors in the Kings Park,
Torbrex and St Ninians areas.
- Object to Stirling Council Planning accepting an application for a
proposed new access at Murrayshall Quarry ref: 18/00735
- Object to the revival of Murrayshall Quarry, Cambusbarron.
- Object to the further destruction of woodland around Murrayshall
Quarry Cambusbarron which provides the city with oxygen, improves air
quality by taking in carbon dioxide, supports wildlife and florae.
Object to the proposed transportation of quarried products through the
streets of Stirling by 20/30 tonne HGV’s for the next 15 to 20 years
putting all pedestrians and cyclists at risk.
- Probable route, POLMAISE ROAD, KINGS PARK
ROAD (historic Victorian quarter, conservation area), QUEENS ROAD,
DUMBARTON ROAD, RAPLOCH ROAD, A84 or WEAVER ROW, BORESTONE CRESCENT,
GLASGOW ROAD, A872.
- Object to a substantial increase in CO2 emissions in our local
environment.
- Object to the detrimental impact an active quarry and transportation
of its goods through our roads will have on our Environment, Health,
Safety and Wellbeing.
- Object to the possible devaluation of your home as relentless HGV’s
run by.
- Object by sending an email direct to
planning@stirling.gov.uk
- Object by sending a text direct to 07717990001.
- Object by letter.
HGV Horror.
Members and supporters of our charity have been working tirelessly over
the past eleven years in an attempt to save the woodlands around
Cambusbarron from further destruction by the reactivation of Murrayshall
Quarry.
The woodland is home to all sorts of fauna and florae and is
enjoyed daily by children, walkers, climbers, mountain bikers, bird
watchers, campers and geologists.
Just as important as saving the
woodland is saving the citizens of Stirling from the long term suffering,
that we will all be affected by, as 20 to 30 tonne HGV’s trundle back and
forward through the streets of Stirling for the next 15 to 20 years. This
will have a harmful effect to the environment, our wellbeing and put the
health and safety of residents at risk.
As a new planning application to
access the quarry has been submitted to Stirling Council we respectfully
request your agreement of our petition by sending a message direct to the
Council for all the reasons detailed therein.
Iain Munro.
Chair & Treasurer : Save Gillies Hill.
We are trying to save the beautiful, popular and
historic Gillies Hill in Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire, Scotland from being
destroyed by the reactivation of quarrying.
(For
Latest News - Click Here)
Save Gillies Hill
- has helped
preserve the Hill since 2007 when re-activation of quarrying was threatened.
But that threat is now extreme, with two new quarriers in the frame.
We
need to raise several thousand pounds as quickly as possible: the campaign
in the past required considerable expense; but now, as the crisis deepens,
and we're facing determined, hard-nosed and financially privileged
opponents, we need increased professional help - and, ultimately - it looks
increasingly likely - from the legal world.
Wildlife
that will be lost when quarrying begins -
click here) |
Why this Hill?
HISTORY:
the Gillies Hill is part of the official Historic Scotland Battle of
Bannockburn battlefield. Why? Because it was here that Bruce stationed
his Ghillies, or cooks, grooms, smiths, etc, before the Battle - the
"Sma'
Folk" that the poet Barbour called them in his 14th century poem . The name
'Gillies' comes from that Gaelic word ghillies. These ghillies, according to
what's been passed down to us over the centuries, following the 2-day battle
initially from the Hill, descended in droves, as the Battle moved Scotland's
way. The English, alarmed by the number and the noise from them (perhaps
banging pots and pans and waving rags like flags) thought them Scots
reinforcements, and, legend has it, fled the field.
FLORA: the number of Ancient Woodland indicator
species on the Hill is sufficient to classify the Hill as an Ancient
Woodland.
PROTECTED WILDLIFE: native animals such as red squirrels, badgers, pine
martens, and peregrine falcons live on the Hill.
LEISURE & RECREATION:
the Hill is heavily used by walkers, runners, mountain bikers and rock
climbers. In 2012, over 40,000 visitors to the Hill were statistically
recorded.
PROXIMITY: think how close the quarry area is at present to
Cambusbarron: most people don't realise this. They may walk past the
Murrayshall side and think the quarry doesn't look too bad; but if you enter
the site, or approach it from the woodland side, you'd be appalled at the
vastness of what's already been taken away. And - think what is likely to
happen if the quarriers get new or revised planning permission. It's no
exaggeration to say that the whole Hill may well disappear over the next 60+
years. And then, think of a land-fill site, where what was once our
beautiful woodland is filled up for another 100+ years with rubbish.
TRAFFIC: the 2007 would-be quarriers referred to 100+ lorries a day
travelling to and from Murrayshall. Think, if you can, of the impact of
those on Polmaise Road, on Torbrex Road, on the Kings Park area, or
Cambusbarron Main Street - and think, too, of the schools near these roads.
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Download the "FREE" Gillies Hill App
The Gillies Hill app aims to provide
a companion and guide to "Gillies Hill", located in Stirling,
Scotland with its many walks and places of interest not to mention
its beautiful landscape, protected animals and history.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
click here
TO DONATE
click here.
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