Clydebelt Blog

Merkins Windfarm Objection

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:26:57 +0100

Clydebelt has objected to this proposed wind farm planned for Auchenreoch Muir on the Kilpatrick Hills just east of Pappert Hill above Bonhill.

The ten turbines would be 120m high and fully visible from much of Loch Lomondside and that area of the National Park as well as from Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven and much of the area from Balloch to Stirling. They will be very prominent from almost anywhere in the Kilpatrick Hills

The Kilpatrick Hills Regional Scenic Area had been removed from the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan as an area suitable for sites for windfarms and the application conflicts with many of the aims ot the West Dunbartonshire Local Plan.

Clydebelt’s full objection is at
http://www.clydebelt.org.uk/merkins-windfarm-objection-15-3-12.pdf

Other objectors have set up a comprehensive website at
http://www.stoplochlomondwindturbines.com giving detail of this and comment on wind farms in general as well as details for making objections.

Clydebelt Meeting

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:54:04 +0000

Clydebelt Committee Meeting Tuesday 17th January 2012 Trinity Church 7.30p.m.

AGENDA
1. Apologies for absence
2. Minutes of last meeting and AGM
3. Matters arising from minutes or AGM
4. Secretary's report.
5. Appointment of Office Bearers.
6. Meeting with Forestry Commission
7. Kilpatrick Hills Study for Central Scotland Green network
8. Donation to Church
9. Use of Site of Local Nature Conservation --Auchentoshan for cycle racing
10.Windfarm.
11. A.O.C.B.

Clydebelt’s AGM

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clydebelt’s AGM will be held on Tuesday 15 November 2011 in the Trinity Church hall, Roman Road, Duntocher at 7.30 pm.

Then Tea & biscuits, and a
talk by Roy Barlow, Site Manager for the Woodland Trust Scotland at Maryland Farm/Lang Craigs. Hear about the Woodland Trusts aspirations for their new woodland above Dumbarton.

See Clydebelt’s Nov 2011 Newsletter for more details http://www.clydebelt.org.uk/agm-newsletter-2011.pdf

Woodland Trust Maryland Farm Consultation 10 August

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:41:06 +0100

The good news over the last few years has been the acquisition of land in the Kilpatricks for Community Woodlands. Cochnohill, above Cochno, has now been planted by the Forestry Commission as Community Woodland. The trees are all native species and funds were obtained under a carbon sequestration grant scheme. Gavinburn Farm has recently also been purchased by the F.C. who are yet to do the surveys required before indicating what will be planted.
Above Dumbarton, Maryland Farm was purchased by the Woodland Trust who now have a site manager, Roy Barlow, in place. Their 600 acres adjoin Overtoun Estate and the Lang Craigs. The vision is to work with local schools and communities to create a native woodland for people and wildlife.
There is to be a Community Consultation in St Augustine’s Church Dumbarton High Street on Wednesday 10th August at 7.30.

Please come along and hear what the outline plans are and give your comments and suggestions. Roy is available at 08452 935744 RoyBarlow@woodlandtrust.org.uk should you want to contact him direct.

Fancy a bit of Drystone Walling?

Tue, 9 Aug 2011 14:44:44 +0100

The West of Scotland branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association has still got places on the next week-end training scheme on September 3rd and 4th. http://www.wsdswa.org.uk/#/training/4550429337 (May take time to load.)
Have a look at the gallery on the site to see what you could achieve with a bit of practice.

West Dunbartonshire Local Development Plan

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:47:15 +0100

As you may know West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) has started formulating their new local plan. It is only a year since the last one came into force as the West Dunbartonshire District Plan, previously these were separate plans for Clydebank District and Dumbarton along with the Vale of Leven. These plans are revised every five years and it is hoped to have this one finalised by 2014. The new plan is being called the WDC Local Development Plan and there is a questionnaire at. www.surveymonkey.com/s/westdunbartonshirelocaldevelopmentplan should you want to make comment. Further information can be found at www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/building-and-planning/local-plans/wdldp/

Members of Clydebelt, with many others attended a ‘scoping exercise’ to give the planners some idea of what various bodies wanted to incorporate in the plan. The report from this can be seen by following the links on the council website under LDP.

Local plans are extremely important and Clydebelt has made considerable input into the last three. Forward planner, Alastair Gemmell will be attending the next Clydebelt meeting on 20th September to summarise the aims of the plan and to answer questions. All members are welcome to attend.