Fencing more than 16-feet high is to be put up to stop balls landing in a community garden - despite those managing the garden saying they hadn’t asked for it.
Stirling Council planners have conditionally approved an application by the local authority to install five-metre high ‘ball stop netting/fencing’ between Braehead football pitches and Braehead Community Gardens.
Braehead, Broomridge and District Community Council Development Trust, however, have lodged an objection - based on “lack of information” shared with them and documents submitted with the application.
The trust hold the lease for and manage the community garden, however said they needed further information about the fencing proposals and had not been formally notified.
Council planners, however have said planning guidelines on notification have been followed.
In response to the trust saying it had not requested the fence, council planners said: “This is not a material planning consideration. The planning legislation does not require adjacent land owners or users to require the development being sought.
“Whilst applicants are encouraged to undertake pre-application discussions with neighbouring occupiers this is not a mandatory requirement for this type of planning application.”
The trust was also concerned about the impact of the fence on solar panels and trees in the community garden.
The fence will have a large open mesh grid design, comprising larger grids with smaller mesh between each grid. The fence panels will be set around three metres apart and located approximately 0.60 m back from the existing community garden perimeter fence.
In their decision, council planners said: “The fence will be set back from Broom Road to the west and located to the end of the football pitches. The location of the proposed new fence will be in keeping with the existing layout of the site and not diminish the overall open character.
“The open design of mesh panels set between fence posts can be seen through and does not result in a hard boundary or the provision of an unduly dominant structure, even given the significant height of the fence.
“The fence will be finished in green which is considered sympathetic and appropriate within the context of the site.
“The solar panels comprise a significant sized array and are ground mounted and orientated south. The new fence will be set off the common boundary and separated from the solar panels by approximately 5.20 metres. Taking account of this relationship and the design of the fence, with its open mesh and translucent structure the development will not result in a materially detrimental impact on the solar panels.
“The trees are fairly young saplings, located on the community garden side of the existing fence. Taking account of the limited amount of ground works required for the foundations of the fence it is unlikely that the development would impact the trees. Notwithstanding this, a compliance condition has been recommended...requiring that in the event that any tree/trees are damaged replacement planting is secured.”
Braehead Community Garden opened in 2015 thanks to a £250,000 lottery grant. The 11,000 square metre site with 100 raised beds available to hire allows local people to grow fresh fruit and vegetables in a facility that was previously crowned the “Best Community Space in the UK” by the Society of Garden Designers.
