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Angry residents protest over housing plans at old Maryburgh Primary School site, warning it will rob the village of its only green space


By Scott Maclennan

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A COMMUNITY has joined forces to try and stop Highland Council building homes on its only green space.

Furious Maryburgh residents have called the plan a “slap in the face” and dozens took part in a protest on Monday morning, just 24 hours after a rallying call went out on social media for locals to demonstrate their opposition.

The local authority wants to build 12 flats, a bungalow and three terraced units on land at the village’s old primary school. The football pitch to the rear of the school would be retained, but a huge swathe of green space would be permanently lost. This is despite members of both the community council and the Maryburgh Amenities Company (MAC) claiming they had an understanding with the council that it would be preserved.

The planning process has also come under fire and villagers say the final proposal was “hugely changed” from the original they were shown, which was eventually submitted during the run-up to the gala.

This left the community council and locals with little time to consult and canvas opinion and by the time views had been gathered, the deadline for submitting comments had closed.

They also feel the council has taken advantage of their willingness to “do the right thing” by being co-operative and offering concessions to what land they would agree to lose.

The community groups argue the development is happening at the wrong time as well as in the wrong place because they have tried for years to secure ownership – something that would now be possible through cash from the town centre fund.

Jenny Maclennan of MAC said every effort was made to work with – not against – the council, including avoiding making their concerns public.

She said: “The community never agreed to losing anything like the amount of green space that they are taking now. It is like you give them an inch and they take a mile.

“At the end of the day, we have tried to work so hard with the council, tried to do the right thing but this is just a slap in the face and we can’t carry on like this any more.

“I have been a volunteer since 2008 and all I am trying to do is keep the hall running and maintain the green space.”

Chloe Macleod of Maryburgh Community Council believes the development would “ruin” the village, particularly for the young families the council wants to attract to the region.

She said: “I have got young kids who play on the green every single day and it is the only green space in Maryburgh. If they take away the green space then the kids will have nowhere to go.

“It will completely ruin the village. It is a worry as well when you consider the traffic on Hood Street which already has too many cars on it going too fast.”

Comments on the plans on the council website reflect some of the broader concerns, with one objecting to “unsightly new builds” while also worrying about the state of the road and the “fairly heavy traffic.”

Another claims the 16 homes exceed the 10 listed on the local development plan, and cites loss of play area provision, drainage issues, lack of consultation and a lack of vital documentation.

A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The planning application submitted for The Highland Council is currently under consideration and all third party comments that raise material considerations will be taken into account in the determination of the planning application.”

It is not yet known when the application will be decided.


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