COUNCILLORS who voted to make a deal with builders allowing the controversial Kilmardinny development to go-ahead have been accused of selling the people of Milngavie and Bearsden "down the river".
The decision to come to terms with CALA effectively gives the green light to the project — and means the Allander Leisure centre could be demolished before a replacement is built.
Kilmardinny's fate was sealed at a closed doors meeting of East Dun
bartonshire Council held last Thursday, which saw the Labour/Tory administration's proposals to deal with developers backed by the narrowest of margins, in the teeth of concerted SNP opposition.
Controversy surrounds the fact that the deal would have been DEFEATED — but for the fact that LibDem group leader Vaughan Moody left the chamber before votes were taken.
The SNP group put forward an amendment that the council should NOT accept the recommendation of officers to enter into a legal agreement with CALA and Stewart Milne for 550 homes, a retail park and commercial units.
Part of the agreement — branded as a betrayal by MP Jo Swinson — will see the developers get the prime land of the Allander Leisure centre for housing and in exchange the council gets the former Burnbrae Bus Garage site for a partially-funded new sports centre.
The LibDems had been expected to vote with the amendment — but with Mr Moody leaving before the vote, it resulted in the voting going 10-9 for entering agreement.
Had Councillor Moody stayed and voted with his three colleagues — using the casting vote of Provost Eric Gotts in the chair — the administration would have lost the vote.
It's believed by many that the move was a charade and while three LibDems were seen to vote with councillor Ian Mackay's amendment, their leader had done a deal with the administration to force the agreement through. Councillor Gotts told the Herald he couldn't comment on that speculation.
However, fellow LibDem councillor Duncan Cumming said he had voted with the SNP as he believed it was in the best interests of his constituents — and confirmed he did NOT know why his group leader had not voted.
Councillor Moody is expected to face a grilling from constituents when he holds surgeries in Bearsden on Monday and Wednesday.
The Monday surgery takes place in Kessignton Public Hall from 7 till 7.30pm, and the Wednesday one is held in Westerton Public Hall from 7.30 till 8.30pm.
All constituents are entitled to go along and raise issues with Councillor Moody.
For the full story on the Kilmardinny deal, make sure you get your copy of this week's Milngavie and Bearsden Herald which is in shops now.
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