Otago Lane environmental statement needed
The “luxury” flat development planned for Otago Lane in the West End of Glasgow may be excused the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment before getting the go ahead. Glasgow City Council will make this decision soon, and there’s no question in my mind that a development of this size, sited right within a Green Corridor, needs a thorough assessment of the impact it might have on local wildlife, plantlife and waterlife.
So well done to Woodlands and Park Community Council for setting out the detailed case to the Scottish Government ministers pointing out the flawed arguments used by the developer to try to argue that an EIA isn’t required. If Glasgow City Council really cares about biodiversity and looking after the green spaces that make city life worth living, it will insist on an Environmental Impact Assessment for the Otago Lane plans and take full account of the findings.
With this in mind, I’ve submitted the following motion to the Scottish Parliament –
S3M-07159 Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Scottish Green Party): Otago Lane Environmental Impact Assessment— That the Parliament notes the submission from Woodlands and Park Community Council (WPCC) to the Scottish Government, which raises the lack of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed residential development at 65-77 Otago Street and Otago Lane, Glasgow; understands that the site is within both a green corridor and a conservation area and therefore considers that an EIA is imperative; shares the WPCC’s view that the assessment made by the consultant on the size of the development and its impact on the area is contradictory, contains ambiguous language and fails to demonstrate that an EIA is not needed; is concerned that the issues of flooding, drainage, water quality and the development’s impact on wildlife have not been adequately addressed; urges the planning committee at Glasgow City Council not to accept the developer’s argument that an EIA is not necessary, and calls on the Scottish Government to provide a sympathetic and timely response to WPCC’s concerns.