Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Corbyn branches out
Support Mr Corbyn toured the woodland where developers are aiming to construct 2600 houses
Jeremy Corbyn visitedJeremy Corbyn visited Calderbank last week, meeting community activists who are aiming to save an area of woodland from proposed development.
The Labour leader met members of the Woodhall, Faskine and Palacecraig conservation group–conservation group–and offered his support, saying he was“inspired”by their campaign.
He was accompanied by Scottish party leader Richard Leonard for the hour-long tour of the Airdrie site.
Jeremy Corbyn toured an Airdrie greenbelt area as part of his visit to Scotland last week, finding out about residents’ efforts to prevent a proposed development on the site.
The Labour leader spent Friday afternoon at the Calderbank woodland, meeting local residents at the area’s Rainbow Gates before heading with them to tour the site.
Development firm Orchard Brae are bidding to build up to 2600 houses on the land between Calderbank and Carnbroe, along with retail, leisure and community facilities.
The plans have attracted opposition from the Woodhall, Faskine and Palacecraig conservation group, while a 3000-signature petition was submitted to the Scottish Parliament and supported by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard.
Mr Corbyn said: “I was inspired by the brilliant residents and their campaign to save the Calderbank greenbelt.
“They provided me with a wonderful history of the area and explained why it is so vital to them and future generations; they have my full solidarity and support.”
Among the residents joining the Labour leader on his tour was conservation group committee member Dr Ann Glen.
She told the Advertiser: “We walked from the Rainbow Gate in Calderbank down to the sluices on the North Calder Water, and had the opportunity to talk to him about what an area of importance this is and why we’re campaigning to save it.
“He was very interested in and in favour of what we’re doing, and described what we’ve achieved as fantastic.
“He was very much in favour of retention of green spaces for the benefit of local people, and was familiar with places in London which had been derelict land, like Brownsburn had been, and had been turned into allotments, gardens and now a nature reserve.
“Mr Corbyn had also earlier been to the church hall in Calderbank to meet some of the people who are active in the conservation side of things.”
Dr Glen added: “We’re very encouraged and impressed that the Leader of the Opposition should find an opportunity in his schedule to visit us and should make time to come and see a grassroots initiative.”
The Labour leader was accompanied by Scottish party leader Mr Leonard and Helen McFarlane, who will be Labour’s candidate for the Airdrie & Shotts constituency at the next Westminster election.
Mr Leonard said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Jeremy to Calderbank to walk through the area and talk to local people who are fighting to save the greenbelt.
“I know how hard they have organised and campaigned, galvanising the support of the local community, organising meetings and events, and lobbying hard.
“Scottish Labour supported the right of communities like these to have the same appeal rights as developers, but we were voted down by the SNP and the Tories blocking our proposals.”
A spokesperson for Orchard Brae said: “If approved, EuroPark will deliver 1000 much-needed affordable homes set around a country and heritage park, making the green spaces truly accessible whilst directly creating 900 jobs and linking Maxim business park to the existing community.”