A PETITION to save the Ladyfield conservation area in Dumfries has gathered nearly 300 signatures in 24 hours.
It was created by Save Ladyfield Action Group in order to prevent the 82 hectare greenfield and conservation site from being turned into a housing development.
The land between Dumfries and Kingholm Quay is one of the oldest parts of Dumfries and was bought by Lady Elizabeth Crichton as part of the Crichton Estate to be used to ensure the land and views were kept for the people of Dumfries.
Ladyfield, as well as the Crichton, were then bought by Dumfries and Galloway Council in 1995. Since then The Crichton Trust have been custodians of the Crichton Estate.
They have commercially developed the Crichton grounds but have not maintained the conservation lands around the Ladyfield buildings. Campaigners say Ladyfield is “at imminent risk” from developers such as the Crichton Trust who have developed a masterplan which proposes to build 314-367 houses, flats and other extensive buildings and infrastructure on the land.
They are expected to lodge their proposals with the council’s planning department later this year.
The masterplan also proposes infrastructure changes to main access roads in to Dumfries, as well as road calming and narrowing of the main entry road, Glencaple Road, to create a ‘High Street’ to allow multiple entry by pedestrians into the Crichton Estate from the proposed development.
Opponents are also concerned about an increased flood risk.
The Save Ladyfield Action Group aims to promote the voices of local residents who are against the development for non social housing and commercial buildings.
They say their aim is to protect and preserve Ladyfield’s wildlife, wet lands, artesian wells ancient trees as Lady Elizabeth Crichton had visioned it to be for the people of Dumfries.
The group intends to present the petition to Dumfries and Galloway Council and lobby it to keep in place the conservation order of historical interest and agricultural importance placed on the site in 1997.
In addition, they want to see Ladyfield removed from the current and future land development plans.
n The petition can be found at www.change.org/p/save-ladyfield-protect-our-conservation-and-heritage-lands-in-dumfries
