New homes bid could kill Kilmacolm railway hopes

Kilmacolm councillor Chris Curley has hit out at a blueprint in neighbouring Bridge of Weir, saying it would be a 'disaster' if L&S Homes wins permission to erect a development in Station Road.

He says it would be the end of the line for ambitions of bringing back a rail link between Kilmacolm and Glasgow.

The Paisley Canal to Glasgow Central line used to run all the way to the village.

But the section from Paisley through to Inverclyde was closed in 1983 amid a major restructure of the railway system.

The site L&S Homes wants to build on at Beaton Bros Coal Merchants used to be home to Bridge of Weir’s station on the line and many villagers still live in hope that the tracks can be brought back.

Councillor Curley and Inverclyde Council have submitted respective objections to the housing bid.

The SNP elected member says the route is still viable and should be protected.

Cllr Curley said: “I am completely against this housing development. It will have a major impact on the cycle path and on the future use of the route to create a rail link.

“There’s a variety of ways we can revive the railway but it would be stopped if this was to go ahead.

"The route is still viable all the way through until you get to Elderslie.

“There’s a great opportunity here for this route to be part of a new metro system which could possibly tie in with any metro that’s created for Glasgow Airport.

“It would be a disaster if this housing development was to go ahead. 

"I’m glad to see Inverclyde Council has submitted an objection similar to my own.  

“I hope Renfrewshire Council’s planning board do eventually decide to reject this application.”

The National Cycle Route 75 runs alongside the site and there are plans to weave it through the development if it were rubber-stamped.

But objectors including Inverclyde Council have said the move could stop people from using the path.

When the proposals came before Renfrewshire Council’s planning board last week, elected members there opted to carry out a site visit before making any final decision.

The application will be brought back to a future meeting in the new year.

L&S Homes plans to erect a mixture of terraced, semi-detached and detached properties with gardens, parking and recreation space.

There would be 95 parking spaces, two at each home and 17 visitor spots.

A junction is proposed to the east of the site to allow direct access from the A761.

An L&S Homes spokesman said: “There is a clearly identified need for local housing and we have submitted our proposal in accordance with the requirements set out in the Local Development Plan for the area.

“The proposed development will have no adverse impact on the community’s use of the cycle path.

“When we entered into the agreement to purchase the land, it was on condition the cycle path remains open for public use during and after construction.

“Our proposal is to give the community an attractive development with good parking and recreation space. The cycle path is an important part of that development.”