A RETIRING councillor bowed out after sparking a fiery debate over the allocation of land for 350 new homes in Stewarton.

The proposal was made as part of the discussions on East Ayrshire Council’s Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) – a document which will outline the types of residential, business and industrial developments allowed across the authority.

LDP2 proposes the allocations of land for 350 homes at Kilwinning Road, but on the condition that the developer agree to supply land on the site for a new primary school and community facilities.

The only other proposed residential site in the town is for 70 houses at Draffen East.

Annick Councillor Gordon Jenkins called on the council to remove the provision at Kilwinning Road, concerned that the lack of infrastructure in place could cause issues he says have affected other parts of the town.

He argued that there was no guarantee that the conditions in LDP2 to provide land for the school would not be watered down or overturned by the Scottish Government should a developer appeal.

Cllr Jenkins said that issues with infrastructure had contributed towards flooding at David Dale Avenue, claiming that engineers had warned about the impact of new housing on the water infrastructure, but that the necessary action had not been taken.

He also added that Stewarton Medical Practice had removed a number of people who were on its books but outwith its ‘catchment area’, in order to accommodate new residents at the Draffen Mount development.

Councillor John McGhee, a fellow Annick representative, raised his concern that Cllr Jenkins’ amendment would effectively pass on control of what would be built on the land to the Scottish Government.

This was confirmed by officials who said that, without the proposal there was no provision for a school tied to a residential development.

Council Leader Douglas Reid warned: “We are putting at risk the new school and the health facility. We could be in a situation where we are tying our hands to developers and the views of the Scottish Government.

“We could end up with houses with no reassurances in terms of a new school and health facilities.”

The council voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the land for housing.