CAMPAIGNERS are stepping up their fight to stop a developer building on a Glasgow nature spot.

North Kelvin Meadow, formerly disused playing fields between Clouston Street, Sanda Street and Kelbourne Street in the city's West End, was earmarked for building work by Glasgow City Council in 2008.

Save The North Kelvin Meadow campaign group was set up to oppose that idea and members have spent the last four years clearing waste and planting trees and vegetables.

Its 300 active members maintain the area and a petition to safeguard the space now has 1200 signatures.

Douglas Peacock, 47, chairman of Save The North Kelvin Meadow, said: "The reason we get so much support is because we are tackling really big issues in our communities and across Glasgow – obesity, getting kids out playing, not just on concrete – these kids are playing in a wood.

"People know their neighbours because it's a community initiative, people like that idea, they like to get involved and feel a lot safer – there is less crime because of it."

Harry O'Donnell, director of developers New City Vision, believes the plans will allow the beauty of the area to be retained.

He said: "The planning application we have in just now is an attempt to have a trade- off between something which is a feasible development but also something which acknowledges that we have created a good quality open space.

"What started as a project with 115 units, a combination of town houses and mews houses and apartments, has gone down to 90.

"We have also increased the open space considerably from previous plans."

Mr O'Donnell said that the plans have already attracted potential buyers. He added: "We've got an internationally renowned architect, Robert Adam, working on the project; it's traditional and entirely consistent with the West End."

But Mr Peacock said the campaign to save the site will go on. He added: "Our campaign has two phases; the first is to let everybody know about it.

"The second phase is to give people the details of the plans and the areas they can object to, the planning reference number and who to object to. We will be sending those details out to our mailing list and putting up posters.

"We've shown for the last four years that we can do it, we haven't cost the taxpayer a penny and yet this land is being used for the community.

"We've done our best but now it's in the planning committee's hands – I just hope they take notice of the hard work people have put in."

chris.taylor@ heraldandtimes.co.uk

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