LOREBURN Community Council (LCC) has condemned the decision to turn the Greensands area into a car park.
It was agreed at last week’s meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning committee.
However, community councillors say the decision to proceed with a car park has been made despite considerable protests by local individuals, as well as the LCC itself. They all want to retain the green public space in the heart of the town.
A spokesperson for the community council yesterday said: “We would have hoped that the council would support the need for fewer cars in the centre of Dumfries as we try to reduce our adverse environmental impacts through car use.”
The LCC have further criticised the decision as they believe the plans were supported by members of the planning committee who do not live in or around Dumfries, with the casting vote being given by the committee chairman, Cllr Jim Dempster from Sanquhar.
LCC community councillor Susan Garnsworthy added: “You have to wonder how much councillors are listening to their local communities when the decision is driven by councillors from Langholm and Sanquhar. Apparently the car parking was required as part of the horse trading around the flood protection scheme, however our clear understanding is that this administration will not be supporting that, so why destroy a peaceful piece of green space which is much loved and used by local people living in the town?
“It’s very easy to take away green space and never so easy to put it back.”
