Watchdogstoholdpublicmeeting

A community watchdog is spearheading a public meeting for residents and traders to have their say on disorder in East Kilbride Village.

In a series of special reports over the last two months, the News told how police were called to Lindsay House homeless unit nearly 700 times in two years.

That saw under-pressure cops dealing with anti-social behaviour, drug misuse and acts of violence.

East Mains Community Council have called on South Lanarkshire Council to take action to tackle the problems associated with the facility once and for all.

Village traders say a surge in anti-social behaviour is linked to the YPeople charity project within the facility run in conjunction with SLC.

It deals with residents with additional support needs including addictions and mental health issues.

Two whistleblowers laid bare the “chaos” with the facility which they claimed was “awash with drugs and alcohol” with YPeople staff having very little control over residents’ behaviour.

Following pressure from the News, YPeople cut the number of residents within their project in a bid to stem the well-publicised problems.

East Mains Community Council will hold the meeting on Tuesday, November 19 at 7.30pm in the Village Centre in Maxwell Drive.

Secretary, Lynsay Keough, said: “We have invited all agencies involved including YPeople, South Lanarkshire Council, Police Scotland, local councillors, Dr Lisa Cameron and Linda Fabiani MSP. All local traders and residents are welcome to attend.

“We believe that Linda Fabiani MSP recently organised a meeting for local traders regarding the ongoing issues stemming from Lindsay House and are incredibly disappointed that we were not invited to attend.”