Petitioner: David R Slater on behalf of Save our Whitesands car parks and river views
Status:
Closed
Date Lodged:
19 February 2015
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to rule out additional grant funding for Dumfries and Galloway Council for their proposed flood prevention scheme on the Whitesands river frontage in Dumfries that will obscure our important river views forever and take away important safe car parking.
Summary:
23 February 2015: The Committee took evidence from David R Slater and John Dowson. The Committee agreed to write to Dumfries and Galloway Council. Link to Official Report 23 February 2015
Below: David R Slater and John Dowson at the meeting on 23 February 2015
28 April 2015: The Committee agreed to close the petition, under Rule 15.7, on the basis that Dumfries and Galloway Council is still working on plans for a flood prevention scheme at Whitesands. In closing the petition, the Committee agreed to write to Dumfries and Galloway Council urging it to engage directly with the petitioner. Link to Official Report 28 April 2015
9 November 2017: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Public Health and Sport and to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Link to Official Report 9 November 2017
Written Submissions:
- The photos and design plans the council put out to the public dont show a true image of the finished project in particular the height of their proposed grass bankings that will block our river views.
- It will destroy the views of our river forever.
- The walkway on top of these earth bankings doesnt show any safetey railing on the top of it as it has an incline of 30 to 35 degrees of around 8 metres of grass to the base of it.
- The river from the road will be blocked off from public view what if something happens beside the river someone falling or worse. At the moment there is a clear view of the river from the roadway and the shops side.
- Have the emergency services been spoken to as regarding acces to the river if any incidents occur and that includes inshore rescue.
- The buses will have to go up Bank street where there is a sharp right turn and is a busy area for people walking. The buses then face a multi road system that does create traffic jams.
- The loss of our public toilets with no decission by council if they will be rebuilt and where.
- The council are looking to purchase a private car park out of monies from the public purse a car park that is pretty full most days already.
- The build time for this project is in excess of 2 years and will turn our riverfront into a building site and what happens if the river floods in that timescale.
- Most businesses inform me that they are very concerned about this project especially in these times of austerity.
- The cost of this project is rising by the day 12 million now 15 million.
- The council want to turn a green area into a riverside car park to help find space for the 230 proposed displaced parking spaces. This proposed green area is further out and has very difficult access in and out.
- The ancient Rood fair comes to our town and has done so for many generations.