Village traders must get help
Dear Editor,
As someone with some 26 years of retail experience in East Kilbride, Glasgow, Hamilton and Ayr I regret that Lidl have been given planning permission to develop the former Atholl House site.
This will have an adverse impact on the Village traders and, to some extent, those in the town centre.
Lidl have an in-built advantage before a customer enters one of their stores.
They are a private company and shares can only be held by employees and their families, enhancing their ability to undercut other traders.
Other small traders also find it difficult to open from 6am in the morning until 10 or 11 at night.
Chains such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, M&S etc can take steps to mitigate the effects of Lidl but not so for the many small traders in the Village.
Some action must be taken to assist the Village traders.
It’s absolutely essential.
Joe Allan, Westwood
New club is like family Dear Editor,
This letter is to show my appreciation of how splendid a job Linda Fabiani MSP did when she opened a new Welcome club in partnership with the mobility centre in the town.
The club itself is superb with something there for everyone, including tai chi on a Friday which is excellent.
After a few classes I didn’t need my walking stick as much and I am feeling better all the time.
The club is run by Doreen McLean who thinks of everyone but herself and the staff who are volunteers are also superb and work very hard non-stop.
They also offer fantastic meals and snacks every day – the people who work at the club are like family and always make you feel welcome.
Thanks again to the lovely Doreen and Linda.
Harvey Rhodes, East Mains
Play group is buzzing Dear Editor,
A big thank you from all the children, staff and carers of Kiwi preschool playgroup for reporter
Nicola Findlay’s excellent insight into our lovely nursery (Welcome awaits at Kiwi Playgroup, May 2).
I’d just like to point out that our beehives, which are for solitary bees, are actually based at East Kilbride railway station and not up at the Hillocks Regeneration Park.
And just to follow on from Nicola’s report, we hope to see lots of toddlers at our open morning at Kirktonholme Community Centre on Thursday, May 24 from 10am until 11-30am for free crafts, games and activities.
Anyone unable to make it and looking for more information on our term-time nursery sessions can contact Kiwi via www.kiwipreschool.co.uk or call 07763 465862.
Chairman Rebecca Hay, Kiwi pre-school playgroup, East Kilbride
Moss is a town asset Dear Editor,
It’s great to see the people of Langlands Moss continuing their fantastic work (Fighting back after the fires, May 2)
I’m sure I wasn’t the only reader very sad to see the fires of last year and how much devastation they caused.
Our green spaces and areas for wildlife are so important and Langlands Moss is without doubt an asset the town of East Kilbride should be proud of.
EK voter, via email