By David Carnduff

BARRHEAD residents will suffer years of noise pollution and mess if plans to build homes on greenbelt land get the go-ahead, it is claimed.

The warning has been issued by Tom Lagan, who spearheaded a successful campaign four years ago to halt a previous development at the picturesque site near Boylestone Quarry.

Gladman Developments Ltd hope to build 100 upmarket houses but the controversial plans are attracting opposition from a growing number of residents.

Mr Lagan, who lives next to the site, lying to the west of Brownside Avenue, has now launched a fresh campaign to scupper the development and is urging others to join him.

He claims the new housing would have a detrimental effect on the local community, with few benefits.

Mr Lagan has sent a letter to Gladman, outlining his fears, and is encouraging fellow residents to email the company to ask for the application to be withdrawn.

He told the News: “If this gets the go-ahead, the greenbelt there will be gone forever.

“Kids play in this area and people walk their dogs there, so there’s a risk they will lose that privilege.

“There are deer and other wildlife which people enjoy observing – but it would be driven away if the plan goes ahead.”

Mr Lagan also fears the disruption caused by works traffic will be a safety risk to all, especially kids who will be forced to play nearer to the quarry, increasing the chance of an accident.

He added: "The entrance to this area will become a mess with the mud and heavy traffic, especially Brownside Road, which looks like the obvious entrance route if approved.

"Years of building works will disrupt our quality of life and there will be noise pollution and mess."

Gladman developments is seeking permission in principle to build on the site and a 12-week consultation period is under way.

Opposition has also come from local politicians, with Kirsten Oswald MP saying there are already a number of sites waiting for development around Barrhead and she is not persuaded the town needed another speculative site eating into the greenbelt.

East Renfrewshire Council has said that, in drawing up a new Local Development Plan, the Main Issues Report has set out a range of sites which could be suitable for development and the site to the north of Boylestone Quarry is not identified as one of the preferred areas of land.

No one at Gladman Developments was available for comment.