People power can’t be ignored by those in power

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the East Kilbride News.

Whenever you see a controversial planning development, there will be a community coming together to make their feelings known.

In East Kilbride, we have two sets of people from different areas of the town having their say.

Last Tuesday afternoon, South Lanarkshire Council planning committee councillors gave Lidl permission to build a store on the former Atholl House site.

That decision has gone down like a hot chip in the Village with traders there saying the impact of this store could be devastating for them.

While some folk have welcomed the development, see our Voice of the People below, others are dead against it and feel more should be done to help independent shops in areas like the Village. Read more on pages 4 and 5.

Meanwhile, proposals for a new nursery in Westwood have generated a response from the community council and people living nearby who have made it clear they do not want to see any green space lost at the recreation area.

It looks like a campaign will be launched and one councillor’s invitation for local folk to get in touch with their views on the council project is sure to be accepted. You can read more about this issue on page 9. While development is necessary, the impact on communities in the loss of space, disruption due to works and longer-lasting effects, cannot be ignored.

The opinions of residents must also be given considerable weight – particularly if there are concerns regarding the impact on the local economy or the loss of precious green space.

The people cannot be ignored.