Battle of Mugdock

Strathblane, Blanefield, Mugdock, Carbeth & Auchineden (circulation 1000) Issue 11... September 2001 BATTLE OF MUGDOCK [email protected] Philip Graves of us who were brought up on ning authorities to ensure ex- heavily recycled and chemi- tensive environmental screen- L. KATRINE he waters of Mugdock cal-laden southern English ing takes place. and Milngavie water, it seems strange that For convenience the WATER Treservoirs may look Scottish water, from a source Milngavie site has much to calm but beyond their banks as pure as Loch Katrine, offer. It is close to the raw a relentless storm of protest should require more treat- water supply, road access is PROJECT has erupted in the quiet streets Willie Oswald below. With precious little warning the residents of 1 Main Treatment P h i l i p Milngavie have awoken to the Plant Graves’ arti- fact that one of the largest cle on this 1 2 Proposed page gives a engineering works ever 2 planned by a water authority two lane access very full de- controlled by scription of could end up right on their traffic lights this project. doorstep. For many the first on A81 Prior to inkling of what West of Scot- a planning land Water (WSW) had in 3 3 Treated water application mind was an article in early service b e i n g August in the Bearsden & reservoirs submitted to Milngavie Herald. This pub- E a s t licised the formation of a cam- Dunbartonshire paign group calling itself the Council, West “Friends of Milngavie Reser- of Scotland voir” which intended to fight Water will the development and to en- 3 submit a courage greater local involve- “neighbourhood ment in the whole process. notice” to So what is all the fuss Strathblane about and is it simply another Community case of pure “nimbyism” (not- C o u n c i l in-my-backyard)? For those together with ment, especially one costing straightforward, WSW own the plans of the project. £100m. But EU regulations most of the site and few SCC will lodge these and Inside are to be obeyed, whatever the houses would be affected. any other related purity of the rainwater that Against this they would be information in the library • What’s in a name? falls on the hills surrounding building in the green belt in for anyone to view. Loch Katrine and is then piped an area very popular with lo- Any comments on • Coubrough plaque to Milngavie. cals for its high amenity value. these proposals should be It is a huge development The various other options have placed in the suggestions box • Viral infections which will also cause 3 years hardly been well documented in the library. of traffic congestion when and their disadvantages have • Mystery picture building starts in Spring 2002. not been clearly stated. The NEIGHBOUR- It has been described as tak- Loch Katrine Project website HOOD GIFT • Joined up drinking ing the space of 5 football has a rather complex review pitches to a height of a 4-sto- of the methodology used to We would like to thank Graham Dunigan and all those • Golden girl Leanne rey building. The WSW pre- reduce the number of options ferred site, at the north end of down to the preferred option. who were in Neighbourhood the causeway dividing the res- The website seems high on Watch in the Kirkhouse area • Towering success ervoir, is likely to be straight management consultancy jar- for their generous donation to onto bedrock which could gon and low on detail. The the Blane. • Mugdock Castle make it expensive to sink the suspicion has to be that Cost, When NW was wound buildings down into the hill. rather than Performance, Risk up, the decision was made to • Cycle Club news So if the “Friends” are un- or Environmental Impact was transfer the balance of funds successful in forcing WSW to the main criterion. to support the village Next issue November. reconsider one of the other 16 Others are suspicious newsletter. It is a great Deadline date for articles sites instead, at the very least help and is much 25th of October. they should persuade the plan- Cont’d on page 2, col.1 appreciated. 1 WHAT’S IN A NAME? Catherine Organ THE NAMING of new development is always a matter of opinion but is normally based on the historical ele- ments of or in a community. The new housing off Campsie Road has been no exception. Ironic suggestions were put forward including ‘Pokey Hat Place’ or ‘mansions’ and ‘Planning Points’ but reference to the History of Strathblane has produced more acceptable nomencla- ture with Station Lofts and Cockalane View. The derivation of the naming on the southern development comes firstly from the fact that Strathblane Station was on the site and to this has been added the word Lofts, which was a part of the lands of Broadgate Farm, prior to the building of the railway. Many residents today are not aware that the railway line ran from the rear of the present primary school along where the telephone exchange is built then across a bridge to the station and was operational during the 1950s for goods transport before closure. It seemed appropriate to record VILLAGE CLUB OPENING its existence. Andrew Orr look to the building. The second name Cockalane View selected is be- The ceremony was at- cause it will look across to the Gowk Stane Road on which n Saturday 11th August tended by Helen Munro, Di- is recorded Cockmylane where the first licensed distill- 2001, a tape cutting rector of Community Services ery in the early nineteenth century was built by Alexan- ceremony formally with Stirling Council who der Parlane, in contradiction with the many illicit ones O that caused the two resident Revenue Officers much trou- marked the successful com- along with the Community ble but a handsome return in bribes to ignore what they pletion of the first section of Fund (Scottish Lottery Chari- saw. History records that it was not unusual to see the Phase 1 of the Village Hall and ties Board) are co-funding the early morning smoke of some thirteen stills from behind Club improvements project. Phase 1 works. Netherton village while the churches decried the evils of The ceremony took The tape cutting was alcohol. The exact location of the licit still is where the place at the Village Club and carried out by Mrs Avril Glasgow water pipes enter the hill. The older spelling of marked the reopening of the Meighan, a descendant of Al- Cockalane was chosen as being more historically fac- Club after roof tile and win- fred Yarrow who donated the tual. It is to be hoped that the new residents appreciate dow replacement and subse- Club to the inhabitants of that their addresses are a part of the history of the Par- quent re-decoration have Blanefield and Strathblane 90 ish. In the process of the research it has thrown up just brought a much needed fresh years ago this year. how much change does take place within a period of fifty years. WE have heard only praise for the work done on the Village Club and we offer our congratulations and WHAT CAN I thanks on behalf of the community to Andy Orr and THANK YOU his team for all their hard work. Also to Colin McNair DO? for his architectural expertise. It is a fine asset. he Keddie and Muir Willie Oswald family say thank you MUGDOCK BATTLE pact on six houses in Tto the many relatives ...About dark street lights? Mugdock, not to mention the cont’d from page 1 and friends who attended We have all been an- effect of extra traffic on the the funeral at Clydebank noyed by dark street lights that about the speed with which Strathblane road. Crematorium on 16th June seem to take days to repair; the preferred option is being By the time you read of Alex - husband, uncle, and potholes and broken rushed through. With plan- this much more water will great uncle and great great signs; and … and… ning permission being for- have flowed under the bridge, uncle. Why does it take so mally submitted possibly as including public meetings in Thanks for all the long? In part, it’s because we early as September, there has Milngavie and letters of sup- help from doctors, nurses all, at times, believe the per- been little time for local resi- port or opposition sent to East son to phone the Council on dents to come to terms with Dunbartonshire planning de- and staff, and the minister, Alex Green, once again. the Lo-cost local line should the immense size of the partment. But it is not too be ‘Someone Else’. project and its impact on the late to get involved. Further Now, ‘Someone Else’ Milngavie area. In the litera- information is available from Jean Keddie may well report the fault they ture published by WSW they WSW at the website observed. However, to make argue that one of the key fea- www.katrinewaterproject.com sure it’s dealt with, you could tures of the preferred option or telephone 0808 100 5333. FLAT OUT FOR ensure that it is reported. Bet- is that it recognises the “con- To hear more about the ter the fault is reported 3, 7 cerns raised by consultees in- “Friends of Milngavie reser- THE SPRING or 15 times than not at all. cluding the local community”. voir” who have already made he new flats below the The Stirling Council As a member of the such a big splash telephone Kirkrooms should be Lo-cost one stop number is Strathblane Community Iain or Lynn Cree on 0141 956 0845 274 3322 Council (which includes 5493.

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