2/2/05 PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

Committee members decided that the owners (Quarriers) had not fully explored all avenues which could save the Church for the use of the Community and surrounding area which would preserve the history and heritage intact for future generations. The committee decision was to defer the decision for six months in the hope that this period would be used by all concerned to explore possible avenues open to save the Church and to be able to report back positively to the Committee at the end of six months.

Save the Church Committee wrote to Quarriers after this meeting and suggested that we were willing to start discussions regarding the future of the Church. Quarriers rejected this stating that due to the legal agreement they had with the developer Burrell they could not talk to us on the future of the Church.

6/4/05 PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

The planning application was brought before the Planning Committee by Frazer Williamson Head of Planning, who recommended that the consultation period of six months be stopped and the application.

Approved by the Committee. After much debate it was proposed by the Planning Committee Convener Cllr Forbes that the application be passed, this was sadly seconded by the Quarriers/Kilmacolm Cllr. Fyfe.

Opposing the motion and for the rejection of the application Cllr. Roach nominated and was seconded by Cllr Stewart with Cllrs Hunter and McCormack voting against the application proceeding. We thank the Councillors who had the courage of their convictions to vote against this application and had the foresight to see that the church, part of Scotland’s heritage, really should not be converted to flats and lost.

Now that the application has been rejected we as a committee are continuing to further develop a robust business plan to be prepared to work to manage the church. We are also prepared to deal with any appeal that the developer may lodge with the Scottish Executive to overturn the historic decision taken by certain members of the Planning Committee.

Once again thank you for your support, it’s a great battle to win but there is still a lot to do before we can see the church saved and back in use again.

To support us with that hard work should you feel that you can assist us in any way please do not hesitate to contact the Committee.