10/7/2008Delay over Go Ape verdict
A DECISION on whether the Scottish Government will intervene over a plan for an adventure course in a Glasgow park has been delayed by a month.
Glasgow City Council gave permission in March for English firm Go Ape to create a high wire course in the trees of Pollok Park, despite almost 900 objections.
But because the council has a financial interest in the course the plan has been passed to ministers.
They initially had until July 9 to decide whether to ‘call in’ the application.
Now the deadline has been extended by another 28 days to August 6.
Ministers can rule on the plan, possibly after having a public inquiry, or pass it back to Glasgow City Council to deal with.
Save Pollok Park, which is campaigning against the plan, handed in a 5000-strong petition to the Scottish Parliament last week.
Bill Fraser, from Save Pollok Park, said: “We are hoping the extension means the Scottish Government is giving serious thought to our objections.
“A large amount of
supplementary information was put in by us after the planning application was decided, such as facts on the car parks and that the National Trust For Scotland objects to it being in the North Wood.
“Had this information been available to the planning committee at the time it might have affected the decision.”
A Scottish Govenment spokesman said: “The reason for the extension is because the Government needs more time to consider the application. It can often happen in these cases.
“It is possible it could be extended again.”
Glasgow City Council gave permission in March for English firm Go Ape to create a high wire course in the trees of Pollok Park, despite almost 900 objections.
But because the council has a financial interest in the course the plan has been passed to ministers.
They initially had until July 9 to decide whether to ‘call in’ the application.
Now the deadline has been extended by another 28 days to August 6.
Ministers can rule on the plan, possibly after having a public inquiry, or pass it back to Glasgow City Council to deal with.
Save Pollok Park, which is campaigning against the plan, handed in a 5000-strong petition to the Scottish Parliament last week.
Bill Fraser, from Save Pollok Park, said: “We are hoping the extension means the Scottish Government is giving serious thought to our objections.
“A large amount of
supplementary information was put in by us after the planning application was decided, such as facts on the car parks and that the National Trust For Scotland objects to it being in the North Wood.
“Had this information been available to the planning committee at the time it might have affected the decision.”
A Scottish Govenment spokesman said: “The reason for the extension is because the Government needs more time to consider the application. It can often happen in these cases.
“It is possible it could be extended again.”