To council officers its unused scrub land but to those living opposite its a natural woodland screen which divides residential from industrial.
West Lothian Council was approached by Ground Equipment Hire Limited (GEHL) which owns Unit 1 at Burnhouse Industrial Estate in Whitburn.
According to a report to council: “The land in question extends to 0.806 acres and is currently unused scrub land on the periphery of the industrial estate. The council has no operational use for the land and, at present, it represents an ongoing maintenance liability.”
GEHL wants the the land to further expand parking facilities and secure yard space.
The council planned to sell the land - in Dixon Terrace- for £82,000 and sought the green light from a meeting of the Executive.
But Councillor Charles Kennedy told the meeting: “It’s described as unused scrub but when you walk about the area it’s almost all mature trees and forms a whole screening around the industrial estate. It looks like one of the better designs.
“Are we happy to open to take that screening away and open it up to the residents in the public housing opposite. Have you consulted with the community?”
Head of finance, Donald Forrest, told the meeting: “We would not normally undertake a community consultation for a sale of this type.”
Chairing the meeting councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick asked: “Is it woodland or is it scrub. Is there anyone who can answer this from an officer end.”
No one could.
Councillor Kennedy said: “Looking at a Googlemaps, just now it certainly looks like mature woodland. It’s quite substantial and looks to be a screen for the houses from the noise of an industrial estate. Are we passing on a great burden to colleagues in planning by selling this?”
Councillor Fitzpatrick said: “There seems to be a lack of clarity. This area does seem to be a buffer between [ the homes and industrial estate]. Can we carry this forward till we can get some pictures?”
A decision was delayed until the New Year.
