A DEVELOPER is appealing against the council’s decision to reject a controversial plan to build flats on greenspace in Partick.

The initial application to erect 48 flats on Beith Street sparked protests from nearby residents in August and was refused by Glasgow City Council in October.

But the decision will be reviewed by councillors at a meeting on Tuesday, with the developer claiming it has put forward “a workable compromise strategy”.

More than 100 people objected to Clydeside BSW Developments Limited’s plan, including councillors, MSPs and MPs.

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Protesters tied yellow ribbons to trees on the site to highlight their campaign.

They fear the development would spoil the open space, ruining the area for dog walkers, cyclists and children.

Glasgow City Council ruled the proposals were contrary to planning policies and would result in the loss of “much-needed public space”.

However, the applicant said: “In spite of a highly visible organised local campaign – with notices and yellow ribbons pinned to trees on the application site – we note that a majority of formally notified households did not raise an objection to the application and that the greater proportion of representations submitted are from third parties living elsewhere, with most of these being standardised duplicate letters.”

The company says some opponents of the scheme believe the land is public when it is in private ownership.

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It has promised to “redistribute” the open space, planting more trees than are removed, creating a “living wall” noise barrier along the nearby Clydeside Expressway and improving the cycle routes.

Residents have raised concerns over the safety of falcons, bats, foxes and hedgehogs in the area but the developer said Scottish Natural Heritage had no objections. It promised to maintain the “existing wildlife corridor”.

Glasgow’s Green MSP Patrick Harvie has opposed building on the land, used for a national cycle route between Glasgow and Balloch. He described the plan as “ill-conceived”, on “one of the few precious pieces of protected greenspace in this part of Partick”.