Object to the proposed new path at Saughs Road in Robroyston by Friday 5 December
- pjsweeney89
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes have applied to Glasgow City Council for planning consent to construct a 500 metre long footpath along the old Saughs Road farm track between Saughs Avenue and the new pedestrian bridge over the M80. I have a series of objections to this proposed path which I have set out in my letter to Glasgow City Council below. If you agree, then please submit your own letter to Glasgow City Council citing the reference number 25/01989/FUL at: planning.representations@glasgow.gov.uk
Start of the proposed path on the old Saughs Road farm track at junction of Saughs Avenue
The full text of my objection letter is below. You are welcome to use any or all parts of it in drafting your own letter to Glasgow City Council.
Sarah Shaw
Head of Planning
Glasgow City Council
229 George Street
Glasgow
G1 1QU
Objection to Planning Application 25/01989/FUL Formation of footpath and cycleway at Robroyston Road/Railway Line/Robroyston Drive
Dear Ms Shaw,
I am writing to lodge a formal objection to the above planning application concerning the proposed conversion of Saughs Road, which is under the control of the applicant, to a pedestrian path.
Having reviewed the proposal and listened to the concerns raised locally, the introduction of a secluded pedestrian route of approximately 500 metres length in this location presents significant safety issues.
The creation of a narrow footpath which lacks natural surveillance and regular public presence, risks becoming a focal point for antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. Such environments, particularly during darker evenings and throughout the winter months, do little to support the safety or confidence of pedestrians using the area.
Objection based on Glasgow City Development Plan (CDP) Policies
This proposal directly conflicts with the objectives of the City Development Plan (CDP), specifically in relation to Placemaking and Community Safety.
• CDP Policy 1: Placemaking Principle states that development should contribute positively to the quality of the surrounding built and natural environment. A key component of good placemaking is ensuring a development is safe and legible. The proposal fails this test, as the lack of surveillance, high isolation, and risk of anti-social behaviour undermines the quality of the public realm, directly contradicting the principle of creating a safe and welcoming place.
• CDP Policy 13: Local Biodiversity and Access to Green Space requires developments to maintain or enhance networks of active travel routes. However, this policy must be balanced with the requirement for safe design. Creating a route that is inherently unsafe, particularly for women, and unlikely to be used regularly as a result does not constitute a positive enhancement to the active travel network. A safer, well-lit street environment is a more robust way to promote connectivity.
Instead of constructing a pathway that may increase risks to public safety, I believe there is a more appropriate and beneficial alternative - Saughs Road should be developed into a two-way vehicular road, properly lit and connected to existing infrastructure. This would enhance safety rather than undermine it. Well-used, well-lit streets deter antisocial behaviour far more effectively than isolated footpaths.
Moreover, such a street would deliver clear advantages for the surrounding community such as improving accessibility, easing congestion, and supporting emergency service access when required. This alternative aligns better with CDP Policy 6: Supporting Economic Growth and CDP Policy 7: Sustainable Transport by ensuring the core road network can support new residential communities and facilitate efficient movement of people and services.
The need for this has been clearly demonstrated recently with the experience of severe overloading and congestion on the only access road to the Wallace Fields estate, which runs from Auchinleck Road to Robroyston Road. This situation will only get worse as more housing is developed on this single access route.
It is now clear that, considering recent evidence, a second vehicular access route into the new housing estates from the B765 roundabout and junction with Saughs Avenue by using Saughs Road to connect with Auchinleck Road is essential to relieve the risk of chronic traffic congestion caused by a single access road through central Robroyston. It was indicated on previous masterplans for the site that an additional vehicular access road would be formed via an underpass of the M80, but this has been deleted from subsequent planning applications without explanation.
For these reasons, and due to the clear conflict with CDP Policy 1 (Placemaking) and the need to address deficiencies in the local road network that the alternative would solve, I urge Glasgow City Council’s Planning Applications Committee to reject the current proposal and request that the applicant resubmits an application for the development of a safer, fully lit vehicular street on Saughs Road that better serves residents and the wider public interest.
Thank you for your consideration of this objection.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Sweeney MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Region
(Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party)
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