CAMPAIGNERS have slammed proposals to build housing on a city greenbelt site.

Residents in Maryhill and Summerston are aiming to block the plans by Glasgow City Council to re-zone a greenbelt space.

They have also blasted the local authority for lack of engagement and say more people should have been informed.

Locals have raised environmental concerns, and say there are other areas in city which would be better suited than the site bordered by Balmore Road and Blackhill Road.

Nick Underdown, vice chairman of Maryhill and Summerston Community Council, said: "At every stage there has been clear expression both locally and broadly within Glasgow against it.

"Despite that it's still getting through each hurdle and is now looking as if it may be part of the final city development plan.

"The city planners of old devised a greenbelt to provide access to green space for the people of Glasgow, but if we keep chipping away at it nobody will have access to it."

The community council are now surveying locals to find out wider opinion and inform others of the plans, after they claim only those living beside the site were told about them.

Local SNP MSP Bob Doris has backed their campaign and submitted a formal objection to the "crazy plans."

Mr Doris said: "Many constituents have raised serious concerns with the proposed greenbelt release.

"As a local resident I share these concerns and believe that the council is putting at risk an area of outstanding natural beauty, causing significant environmental damage and undermining brownfield regeneration in North Glasgow.

"To consider potentially thousands of new houses on greenbelt land whilst my local community in Summerston is crying out for additional amenities is irresponsible.

"I understand the council initially agreed that the land should not be released for development but then reversed that decision following an appeal from the landowners.

"The council should kill off these crazy plans, not push them through".

A council spokesman said: " We have carried out a review of sites with development potential, as we are required to do, and which feeds into the Local Development Plan.

"That also goes through public consultation and our own committee process."

hannah.rodger@eveningtimes.co.uk