Comment posted Osborne Interiors pursue the dance of the chain saws in Castle Woods by Jack Wilson.
Some years ago a well known businessman in Argyll clear felled an area of protected woodland in a scenic area. He was prosecuted and fined the maximum £3K. He then laughed all the way to the bank and built a housing estate on the same land.
Recent comments by Jack Wilson
- STV with Caroline Quentin at Loch Lomond National Park on Tuesday
What a disappointment and a wasted opportunity to tell what the LL&TTNP is about; to tell about the management failures and sheer incompetence since its inception; to tell about some of its outrageous policies contrived largely by people on the Board who live out-with the area and how other areas of Scotland should be aware, very aware of what so much influence from Edinbrugh brings to the community. There was so much more information to tell instead of promoting a highland gathering that is not even in the NP. It was just an ego trip for the infantile presenter. - Today’s discovery: Loch Lomond now experiencing considerable tidal change
I forgot to say: if the entire volume of water in Loch Sloy was released into the Loch Lomond at the one time it would raise the level of water in the Loch by less than one sixteenth of an inch! The generating of power at Loch Sloy has no material effect whatsoever. - Today’s discovery: Loch Lomond now experiencing considerable tidal change
Loch Lomond has a massive catchment from almost Crianlarich in the north to the Campsies in the south east. It has many large rivers like the Falloch, the Fruin and the Endrick flowing into it but also hundreds of smaller burns and streams. This water has only one way out – down the River Leven to the Clyde. When the tide is high, up to Renton near Alexandria, the fresh water cannot get down and so the Loch backs up. A few years ago, between October and February at a time of melting snow, heavy rain and a high tide the loch level rose by eleven feet. There is a control level of 28feet above sea level and if the height at Balloch rises above this the water board has a statutory obligation to open the barrage and permit no impediment to the free natural flow of water. Of late – the past year or two – the barrage has seldom been raised to store water so the increased levels and fluctuating levels in the loch are wholly natural. As I look out of my window now rocks and small islands that are usually clearly visible are completely unseen. In a few days if there is little rain they will re-appear again so News’s tongue in cheek comments about a ‘tide’ in Loch Lomond is not wholly risible and spurious. - Ardfern: divisions in paradise
It’s amazing how the main thrust of an article can be ignored and hijacked by irrelevant side issues – a pretty picture of a boat!A few years ago Ardfern was famous throughout the UK and beyond as being a hippy happy Mecca where the taking of illegal substances could be enjoyed without too much hassle from the authorities. (There were a few insignificant prosecutions to keep the locals happy) Partakers of these substances arrived from all over and found a haven where they could erect a hut or place an old caravan outwith the view of planners, though surely the landowner was well aware of them. The huts of the ‘Hutters’ were mostly tumbledown shanty buildings or old caravans often surrounded by old broken down cars, vans, busses and scrap metal and wood. Because they were purposely secreted the authorities could’nt see them but why they didn’t question where the council tax was coming from raises another issue. If they paid council tax were they entitled to vote?
What appears to be the case now is that these residents coming from all over, are now quite legally entitled to be housed, and from the article it would appear to be that they have priority over the sons and daughters of long term residents some of whom have worked in the area for generations. If the council removes their huts they are homeless and then it becomes the responsibnility of the council to house them. That gives them priority especially if they have children.
This tends to suggest that any person living in any part of the country and beyond can erect a secret hut, live in it undetected for ten years and then be given a cooncil hoose? Great! This will certainly bring new incomers to the Highlands and Islands when squatters and drop outs from London, Birmingham, Warsaw and Bucharest etc know about it. Surely local houses should be built primarily for the benefit of local people and their children.
- Luss Estates hit objections in houseboat plans for Loch Lomond
There were 2 houseboats moored at Aldochlay Bay for many years until probably the late 70s. They created interest to those who passed by on the old A82, were part of the ‘scenery’ and caused no problems whatsoever. They were tucked into a corner of the Bay, were unobtrusive and did not affect navigation in any way. The objectors, The Loch Lomond Association, once the respected voice of boat users on the Loch, over recent years has deteriorated into a negative force that has completely lost direction and become a laughing stock. The objections they have made are non-sensical so far as loch users are concerned and reflect the reason they are now regarded with contempt by the National Park and many previous members. Their objection should be ignored.
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A finger in every pie – all from Waitrose!
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The Council has an open enforcement case on the illegal felling of protected trees on Cumberland Avenue site. It is understood that discussions are ongoing with police and Procurator Fiscal. One possible option is a prosecution of directors of companies involved. How can someone stand for election to a council if there is any possibility of potential criminal charges arising from complaints by that same council?
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Sheer brass-neck and completely dillusional that she has done anything wrong?
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Just a thought…does anyone know which company undertook the recent refurbishment of Victoria Halls (which Vivien Dance is “a friend of”)?
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I wonder if the council had thought to approach a ‘registered social landlord’ about rescuing Jutland Court before it dealt with a developer pushing for controversial sites outwith the local plan – a developer that clearly has close connections with a prominent local councillor? When you consider this saga with that of the Colquhoun Square proposals it’s difficult not to conclude that there’s a touch of the Banana Republic about council politics in Helensburgh.
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Not familiar with this story but distressed to hear about it.
Worth highlighting to any readers concerned about loss of trees and woodlands to development in their area that felling of trees is regulated by the Forestry Commission, so even the absence of TPOs on a site does not in itself allow felling – in most cases a felling licence is required.
Details can be found at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-5zgksj
There are certain exemptions to the need for a licence, but these tend to be limited to smaller-scale operations.
Also, if the planning authority have themselves given approval for felling trees as part of a planning permission, then this overrides the need for a felling licence.
In the absence of any of these exemptions it is an offence to fell trees without a licence – unsurprisingly, given that Scottish Government policy aims to increase woodland cover, not reduce it.
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Some years ago a well known businessman in Argyll clear felled an area of protected woodland in a scenic area. He was prosecuted and fined the maximum £3K. He then laughed all the way to the bank and built a housing estate on the same land.
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Jack, I agree with the sentiment, the sanctions need to be much tougher.
But in the example you gave, ultimately the failing was the grant of planning permission, without this the businessman would have been left with the fine and a replanting obligation, but no material gain.
The cast-iron way to police this sort of behaviour would surely be for local authorities to adopt a policy of automatically refusing any future planning application on land on which illegal felling had taken place.
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I believe it is long past time that our so called council leaders took a stand against “developers” such as Osbourne.
Osbourne purchased these allegedly “protected” woodlands from the MOD ( i.e. you and me – the great British Taxpayer )for a pittance and have since breached numerous preservation orders with apparent impunity. Why do they get away with it?
It seems there is one law for “Developers” and another for ordinary folk.
There are numerous other vacant – in fact derelict – sites crying out for re-development in Helensburgh and in the surrounding area. These appear to be of little interest to this “developer” who clearly stands to make further significant profit at the taxpayers expense by vandalising another important part of Helensburgh’s heritage.
Lets all make a stand to stop them.
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Developers with a close relationship to a prominent local councillor.
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This is a wood to far, they got the land at NON development prices, and now dont like it when they are faced with the fact that it should NOT be developed on, there are other sites that they can build on, but that means putting there hand in there pocket even further, an less of a profit, Weather or not the trees would have come down on the plot at Cumberland Ave this winter will never be known, the fact is they should not have been felled in the first place, they seam to get away with it, as you say they are the ones who are Gambling with the jobs of there staff, not the ones who want this will full destruction of our wood land stopped.
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Good for Osbourne the rest of you are just jelous because you didnt buy the land. Hey and if you did !! you would be doing exactly the same as osbourne. let him throw the first stone. Rember that .
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Do I detect another Simon?
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I think we might be getting led on a merry Dance
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At least Simon is articulate and grammatically correct. Which cannot be said about most of the contributors to this site.
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and your point caller
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Read comment 8 again.
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Not always: you should go back and see some of “Simon’s” earlier posts.
Besides, we collectively decided way back not to criticise each other for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors as we are all prone to them from time to time, particularly in fast moving threads.
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These woodlands have been under threat far too long, its time for the councillors to say no to any further development on them when it is clear there is no need for housing in the area outwith the areas designated for such use in The Local Plan and the Main Issues Report. These woods were never meant to be developed and are still legally protected. The developers have no “right to build” just because of their ownership of the land. It will be interesting to hear what the police and Proscurator Fiscal have to say once the case comes to court, felling trees during nesting time is a crime, no RSPB officer was consulted beforehand despite their claims.
If the local community had the chance to buy the land it would be returned back to woodland. Not everyone is out for personal gain.
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Could it be that the developer’s close relationship with a prominent local councillor has been seen as giving them ‘the right to build’ ?
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money talks and nobody is above corruption. Lets get rid of vivian dance and her friends at these next council elections ……….no corruption in argyll
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I like that slogan – no corruption in Argyll.
Can we also have one that says No Snedders in Argyll?
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Do / Will these people ever stop? Can’t they take a hint?
Link…http://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/thisweek/articles/2012/05/09/428611-campaigners-fury-over-deal-sweetner/
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