Clarity on houses project
Dear Editor Following a story in last week’s East Kilbride News (Homes cuts by housebuilder, page 9) with a version also produced online, in relation to our detailed planning application for new homes at Shields Road in East Kilbride, we would like to take this opportunity to clarify a number of inaccuracies in this story and express our disappointment that we received no opportunity to comment within the piece.
The article relates to the number of homes being cut from the 550 approved in outline planning to 484.
We have made a detailed application – initially for 484 (now 486) private new homes, with an area set aside for South Lanarkshire Council to provide up to 62 new affordable homes.
This brings the overall total of new homes to 546, just a shortfall of four new homes and not the numbers suggested in the story.
To further clarify, we have not changed our proposals. It is normal practice following the granting of a ‘Planning Permission in Principle’ that a developer will then prepare detailed proposals that provides the local authority with much greater information on the proposals for the development.
We are working closely with the officers at South Lanarkshire Council regarding our detailed proposals for the development at Shields Road, East Kilbride, and we hope to secure detailed planning consent in the near future.
Of course, we will also update the local community upon the conclusion of this part of the process.
We’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that the upgrade of Auldhouse Road mentioned in the story is a significant programme of work, and we are currently working with South Lanarkshire Council to agree how this will be delivered.
We will implement a public awareness campaign in order to keep the local community informed as well as inconvenience to a minimum.
David Blair Major projects director Taylor Wimpey
Extrafundingforservices isadropintheocean
Dear Editor South Lanarkshire Greens are calling on the council tax to be scrapped and replaced with a system that helps build a fairer, more equal community and hands power back to local government and local people, here in East Kilbride.
The Scottish Parliament backed a Green MSP amendment which supported raising £100 million extra for public services by tweaking the council tax bands of those who can most afford it. The amendment also, however, put on record the serious concerns about the council tax expressed across the political parties, local government itself and the public service unions.
Whilst this change was better than nothing, it is a drop in the ocean compared to the cuts facing local services; cuts that a recent study confirmed affect the most vulnerable to the greatest extent.
In South Lanarkshire, for example, people have told us about advocacy services being cut and crisis funds running out fast. Local council offices and community facilities like libraries are being centralised or closed, too.
This cannot go on and that is why I was pleased the Greens, SNP and Labour agreed with Green MSP Andy Wightman’s amendment to continue work to find a replacement to council tax.
As Greens, committed to local services and local democracy, we will continue to hold the government’s feet to the fire on this.
Kirsten Robb East Kilbride Green campaigner