BARRHEAD residents claim they face ‘years of misery’ if controversial housing plans are approved by the council.

Dougie McColl, 54, lives on Brownside Avenue and is set to be one of the hundreds affected if housing proposals made by Gladman Developments get the go ahead.

The 50-house site will go in front of the council’s cabinet next week and those living in the area, including dad-of- two Dougie, say that the development could turn their lives into a nightmare.

He said: “It is disgusting how Gladman are getting away with this proposal.

“I live two doors down from the site and the impact for my family would be two years of misery during the building.

“My wife is a childminder and she would struggle if this went ahead. She has children playing outside but would she be able to do that when there is major work going on?

“The impact on my life and the life of other residents would be terrible. How are we supposed to live like that?”

Since the proposal was lodged late last year, local campaigners have been working to ensure residents’ voices are heard in the process.

Gladman’s plans include suggestions that the access route would be an extension of the existing Brownside Avenue – a quiet and narrow residential street.

More than 500 signatures have been gathered by those organising the campaign against development, which has already successfully rebuffed attempts to have the site included in Barrhead’s Local Development Plan.

In a response to the plans, campaigner Tom Lagan said: “The local community are frustrated and angry at this constant fight against developers wanting to build on designated greenbelt land.

“The land is used by many of the local community who enjoy this landscape and children play in this area.

“Taking away this playing area will force kids to play on the streets more, which could increase the likelihood of a child being knocked down.

“Gladman Developments are not a local company, have no interest in what the community has to say, what the future of this site looks like or how it impacts on us.

“They are just looking for approval so they can sell the land to a builder and move to their next greenbelt project.”

Barrhead politicians have also backed calls to have the proposals thrown out.

MP Paul Masterton said: “It is clear from the conversations I have had with local residents how completely unacceptable this proposal is.

“It is an entirely speculative application on greenbelt land which has no merit and absolutely no support.”

When asked about the impact, Gladman Developments said: “We do not comment on matters such as this.”

A council spokesperson said: “An application for planning permission in principle has been submitted and is currently under consideration.

“Once it has been fully assessed, with all relevant factors considered, it will then be brought before elected members.

“This site is not included within the adopted Local Development Plan as a housing site, and this will be taken into account when assessing the application.”