Eastwood MSP, Jackson Carlaw joined with dozens of his constituents outside East Renfrewshire Council's offices to protest the decision to award planning permission for a battery energy storage facility on greenbelt land at Glasgow Road in Eaglesham.
The protest was organised by local residents to coincide with a meeting of the Planning Applications Committee at the council's Rouken Glen Road offices in Giffnock on Wednesday 4th June.
Planning permission was granted for a 40MW battery plant on the greenfield site that is adjacent to the Belle Craig roundabout at a meeting of the committee on Tuesday 15th April after Labour and Independent Councillors voted in favour of the development.
At the recent meeting, Councillor Jim McLean, who represents Newton Mearns South and Eaglesham, had proposed a motion to revoke the planning permission for the battery plant.
The seconder for the motion was Newton Mearns North and Neilston Councillor, Andrew Morrison.
The chair of the meeting ruled Councillor McLean and Councillor Morrison's motion to cancel the planning permission as not competent meaning a vote could not take.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
"The decision of Labour councillors and one independent elected representative to grant planning permission for the Eaglesham battery plant development was unacceptable.
"The decision is even more bewildering when considering the Reporter subsequently rejected the appeal for the first and near identical application on grounds that it failed to meet key greenbelt planning policies and with concerns raised about the outline battery safety management plan when it comes to water storage.
"I was delighted to join with so many of my constituents in protesting against the council's decision ahead of yesterday's Planning Applications Committee meeting.
"However, it is incredibly frustrating that the motion brought forward by Conservative Councillors Jim McLean and Andrew Morrison to revoke the planning permission was declared not competent.
"The outcome of yesterday's committee meeting will not dissuade local residents who are fighting heroically and tirelessly to stop the development.
"I have been robustly opposed to the battery plant from the start and wrote to approximately 500 of the households nearest to the site when both the first and second planning applications were submitted to ask local people to formally object to the council.
"I will be continuing to stand firmly with my constituents in opposing the proposed battery storage facility for Eaglesham."
Notes:
Jackson Carlaw pictured with constituents outside of the council offices.
Jackson Carlaw pictured with Councillors Andrew Morrison and Jim McLean.
Jackson Carlaw pictured making a speech at the protest.
