Renfrewshire Council’s sale of a Bishopton green space could be referred to the national ombudsman as locals vow to hold leaders to account.
Ingliston Drive residents say the local authority’s sale of the land at the end of their street does not honour legislation which has been introduced since the field was deemed surplus to requirements in 2006.
They argue this, together with a failure to consult residents on the proposed sale to a developer, means they are referring the issue to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
The recently-formed Ingliston Drive Action Group says the Scottish Land Reform Act includes guidance for community ownership when land is put up for sale.
Had they been notified that their green haven was being actively marketed, they say they would have applied for a community asset transfer.
Jesse Mitchell of Ingliston Drive Action Group said the land is a much-loved resource where children play, adults exercise and the elderly host informal walking groups.
She told the Paisley Daily Express: “It is with great sadness, given our intention to work together with Renfrewshire Council and our proposal for a community asset transfer, that councillors voted to approve the sale of the land.
“They have used an agreement in 2006 to push through a sale in 2023 without taking into account new legislation which demands communities are consulted and offered first refusal.
“This is extremely disappointing given the SNP’s own land reform bill and their own manifesto of working with communities to make green space accessible.”
The sale of the land on Ingliston Drive had reportedly been negotiated with a developer in 2008 but the sale fell through.
And while the land remained on the local development plan as a potential housing site, the building of 4,000 new homes at Dargavel Village meant there was no shortfall in housing in the community. The site has not been assessed for housing demand since 2006.
It was only when a developer expressed an interest in the site last summer that the decision was made to actively market the land.
However, Ingliston Drive residents were not notified, nor was Bishopton Community Council. Only through word of mouth did the residents learn of the sale after the closing date for bids.
This week, Ingliston Drive Action Group, in partnership with Bishopton Community Council, voted to lodge a complaint with the council ombudsman.
Jesse added: “Rather than being notified of the sale of this land, Renfrewshire Council was sending us letters about its ambitions to ‘strengthen the green network in North Bishopton’ and locals were applying for the same space to become a formally designated biodiversity zone.
“The lack of consistency with their own policies sets a poor example to the community in this instance, and is the reason why we are lodging a formal complaint with the ombudsman. We have already contacted Planning Aid Scotland to seek their advice and support.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “All necessary legislation and procedures have been followed in relation to the sale of this surplus land.”
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