The North Kelvin Meadow community gardeners are calling on everyone who wants to preserve this mature greenspace in the heart of the West End to get emailing and letter writing! Local people have created a beautiful garden and meadow in this community space and are fighting proposals that would construct yet another unwanted ‘luxury’ residential development. The developer, New City Vision, is moving quickly in its pursuit of planning permission and so the North Kelvin Meadow Campaign is looking for as many people as possible to write emails or letters in protest.

For people who have enough time to write two letters over the next while, you can get started immediately. Write to New City Vision Ltd now at Steven Black, Project Manager. New City Vision Ltd.13 Newton Place, Glasgow, G3 7PR or send an email to sblack@newcityvision.co.uk.

Just state your objections to the planned development and make clear why you don’t like the plans. New City Vision Ltd must report all letters that they receive as part of their report on the community consultation process. So the more people who write the better, as it will show that the community stands together, firm in opposition. It would be great if you can send a copy of your email to the organisers of the Meadow Campaign, so that they can keep track of progress. Email them at northkelvinmeadow@gmail.com.

If you will only have time to write one letter, hold off until late March or April 2011, when the developer will submit its planning application to the Council. Then it will be time to submit your formal objection to the plans. As soon as the application has been handed in, the North Kelvin Meadow Campaign will send out another call for support, so keep an eye on www.northkelvinmeadow.com or this website.

I’ll be contacting the developer myself shortly to let them know my long-held views on these plans – it is past time to start truly valuing the precious greenspaces we have left. Glasgow City Council shouldn’t even be thinking about selling off a piece of land like this – what does it plan to do once it has sold off every last bit of open space for more flats and huge profits for property developers? Glasgow’s dear green places must be protected for the common good – not sold off, forever, for short term gains and private profit.