Europark supporters meet to hear about plans

Residents showing support for the proposed Europark development for Calderbank and Carnbroe attended a public meeting to learn more about the plans last week.

The event was held in the Penny Cars stadium and attendees saw a presentation from applicants Orchard Brae, asked questions and shared their views.

It was arranged by North Calder Community Council chair Sharon Craig, who says she has been approached by residents who are keen that local support for the development for 2600 homes and community facilities at the Woodhall and Faskine area is also expressed.

Campaigners opposed to the plans and who want to preserve the existing greenbelt land have to date gained thousands of petition signatures, staged marches and litter picks at the affected land and secured the support of various politicians.

However, Ms Craig told the Advertiser that almost all of the meeting’s attendees were in favour of the plans and insists that there is wider local support for the plans.

She said: “People in this area have come to me and asked if I’d support them as a community councillor, so that’s why I’ve taken this up – people want to have a voice and to get their say.

“They feel that people need housing and were assured that there would be social housing available; one young man spoke about working at [nearby] Eurocentral and a lot of questions were answered.

“What is there not to like? It’ll bring jobs and houses, and we need to look at what’s best for communities.

She added: “Campaigners are saying this woodland is used 24/7 – I didn’t previously know it existed as I thought it was farmland, and I’ve since been down 10 or 20 times and never seen anybody there.

“The presentation was very informative and didn’t leave anything out; there would be social housing and community facilities, and the developers would preserve anything of local history and plant trees on walkways for those that are lost.”

Last week’s meeting came in the wake of a public meeting in Calderbank which saw residents outline their opposition to the development.

It was chaired by Graham Simpson, the Central Scotland Conservative member, who noted that objections centred on the “protection of greenbelt land”; while regional list member Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader, was also in attendance.

What is there not to like? It’ll bring jobs and houses Sharon Craig