New Cocklesloan Pond? No Thanks!

- LOCAL RESIDENTS WANT RID OF DANGEROUS NEW ‘DRAINAGE LOCH’ -

Renfrew Residents want satisfactory information regarding the “Drainage Loch” that has been created by the construction of Cocklesloan Care Home. Not only has parkland been lost, local mums and grandparents fear the accident risk for adventurous children. Residents are keen to stress they have no objection to a new care home being built. They just want rid of the pond that has been created.

Construction started last summer in the park directly opposite Tiree Avenue. This involved fencing off a substantial portion of the park.

Original plans for the public did not indicate drainage ponds or rivers. The new pond has been fenced off for months. Anxious residents demanded a public meeting last autumn in the local community hall. It was attended by all councillors and representatives of Council & Site engineers. Residents claim misleading statements were given and promises made but not carried out and no further action appears to have taken apart from repairs to enclosure fence demanded by mothers whose kids were naturally attracted by the now large water filled pond area.

Wendy Alexander said

“Why is a large part of the park still fenced off from public access? Local people just want to know what is happening. There has been little information or explanation to local residents. There are fears that even reed beds in the future will still carry risks”

The park is today in the same water filled state with a substantial area of what was previously a Green Area fenced off from public use.

Local resident James Tod said, “Why after this length of time is water still visible contrary to original statements. We were told by August 2008 we would not know the ground had been disturbed. We want action to clean things up and we are asking for Wendy’s help”.