Furious political leaders in West Lothian have attacked the decision to allow 90 new homes to be built on farmland outside East Calder.
Planning officer Wendy McCorriston confirmed the decision by a Division of Planning and Environmental Appeals Reporter to allow the plans by Hallam Land Management to build at Hoghill Farm on Oakbank Road.
Speaking at this month’s meeting of the Development Management Committee Lawrence Fitzpatrick, the Council and Labour group leader, branded the decision an “absolute disgrace”.
Conservative group leader, and a local councillor for East Calder, Damian Doran-Timson described the decision as “appalling”.
Mrs McCorriston said West Lothian had pinned its hopes on the introduction of the new planning guidelines to sway in the council’s favour and support their rejection of the plans in December 2021.
She said: “While weight was given to it it did not outweigh the strategic plan which allows greenfield sites to come forward where there are issues of land supply.”
Councillor Doran-Timson said: “This is not the first time we have heard land supply as an an excuse. What now can be done with regards to residents who object.”
Legal advisor Lesley Montagu told the meeting that individuals could raise objections through the court within three months of the announcement if they believed that the Reporter had erred in law.
In practical terms, it is prohibitively expensive and difficult to prove this even for local authorities.
Councillor Fitzpatrick said: “We have a grave situation when people lose trust in the planning system.”
He branded it a “ democratic deficit” that developers could automatically turn to the Report when their plans to develop a greenfield site were rejected but local people did not have a similar non-costs appeal over planning decisions.
“It’s an absolute disgrace. Yet another disgraceful decision which impacts on West Lothian and impacts on communities and on schools.
“From the western end of West Calder right through to Calderwood concreted all the way. We, as elected members, irrespective of our politics,we must stand up for our communities.”
Councillor Doran-Timson said he echoed all Councillor Fitzpatrick had said adding that all councillors in East Calder,Conservative, Labour and SNP had argued against the Oakbank plans.
He told the meeting: “I have to try and temper my language on this because this is an appalling decision. It rides roughshod over West Lothian Council, over the residents of East Calder and over the councillors in the ward there.”
Councillor Doran-Timson said he understood the council’s reluctance to pursue a legal battle with the Scottish Government adding: “It’s just a shame that we can’t do this to highlight to the public in general how poor this decision is.”
He said elected members and the council had already taken criticism in social media following reports that the Oakbank plan had been given the go ahead.
“It’s unfortunate that members of the public do not understand that the council and local councillors had completely rejected this from the outset and are appalled at the decision.”
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