COUNCILLORS have voted to defy the Scottish Government again on a planning issue in Clydebank.

After seeking legal advice, West Dunbartonshire Council’s planning committee voted again to defy an order to change the greenbelt status of Duntiglennan Fields to make way for homes. 

The Scottish Government wants the council to alter its local development plan (LDP) to include the green belt as a housing opportunity. But councillors have again rejected the government and are bracing themselves for the consequences.

Cllr Lawrence O’Neill, planning convener, said: “The ball is now well and truly in the Scottish Government’s court.”

The issue began when Taylor Wimpey was rejected by the planning committee to build on the site in March 2015. The housing giant wanted to build 100 homes – but the idea was scrapped, and then a later appeal failed despite a recommendation for it to go forward by the Scottish Government’s planning reporter.

Councillors resisted due to the green belt status and objections from more than 100 people local to the area in Duntocher. Residents were concerned about increased traffic in the congested zone, plus damage to wildlife and environment in the protected land.

In June last year, the planning minister Alex Neil MSP waded in and issued a ministerial directive for the land to be changed.

However, councillors again said no, with Provost Douglas McAllister saying the order “runs a coach and horses through local democracy”.

In August and then December last year, Mr Neil met with the provost, who is planning vice-convener, and Cllr O’Neill to hear evidence to keep the greenbelt protected on two occasions.

However, negotiations resulted in two resounding “nos” from Mr Neil which led the council to seek legal advice on whether it has to do what the minister says.

Councillors were left with the choice of accepting the LDP with Duntiglennan Fields as a building opportunity or restarting the process of creating an LDP, which takes around five years. They voted unanimously to restart the process, thus defying the ministerial order to accept the LDP.

Of the 19 options for development recommended in the LDP, the council agreed with 18 of them — but due to refusing one has to restart the process. Legal advice concluded they did not have to accept the order from the government.

Cllr O’Neill said: “We have once again refused the ministerial directive and will be contacting the Scottish Government to advise it of that. If it puts me on a collision course with the government, so be it. I’m standing by the principle of local decision making. 

“We’re charged as local members to uphold the desire and wishes of our communities. We, along with the community in Duntocher and around Clydebank, are against any release of Duntiglennan Fields for housing development.”

An SG spokesperson said: “After careful consideration of the information provided ministers confirmed that they do not consider it provides sufficient grounds to vary from the Reporter’s original recommendation. 

“The detailed reasons for this have been provided to the council and are available publicly.”