A charity which bought vacant land next to a waste recycling plant have been refused permission to create an entrance to it as it included chopping down 38 trees.
WAFA EL, whose objectives are described as tackling poverty, advancing religion and providing recreational facilities, applied for permission to create an access road onto the site after it was revealed the sale did not include permission to use a nearby entrance.
However the plans included cutting down the trees, removing 40 metres of stone wall and gave no indication of what they wanted to use the land for.
A report by planning officers said the applicants argued they needed access to maintain the site which has a septic tank on it and would mitigate for the loss of trees in future plans.
The report said: “The council’s biodiversity officer has advised that notwithstanding that the applicant has stated that mitigation for the loss of the trees would form part of a future application without mitigation being proposed within this application then it can not be supported and is
not acceptable.”
The land lies to the east of Kinwegar recycling centre off the A199 and property known as Irene’s Haven.
Planning officers said the site was previously owned by a private individual who retained a private access lane serving both his property and the land adding “Since purchasing the site a few months ago, the applicant no longer has any right of access via this lane and therefore requires their own access to the site”.
The planning application called for a change of use of land and the public footpath on the other side of the wall from the site to form a new vehicle and and pedestrian, as well as creating hardstanding areas, and erecting a new wall, fencing and gates.
Applicant WAFA EL gave an address in Motherwell and registered with the Scottish charity regulator OSCR in November last year.
Its main operating area is given as Edinburgh.
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