Save Fairleigh House from demolition
Dear Editor With the results of our local council complete, we now will be asking them to undertake the onerous responsibility of running all aspects of life in South Lanarkshire.
It is the newly elected planning committee that is of special importance to many of the residents in Bothwell , as they will soon have to make a decision on the future of Fairleigh House and its possible demolition in order to build a 61 bed care home.
What makes this such an issue for those of us who objected to both the demolition and construction of the care home? The very council who have the decision to make should be guided not by the developers or their agents, as they are clearly motivated to make a profit from the architects, builders and owners of the care home. They are not interested on the visual damage this care home would do to the conservation area in which it is set; they do not care about the heritage of this part of our village and the destruction of a beautiful villa that has been left to rot over the past three years with no attempt to replace slates or lead stolen under darkness. If lead is removed from our house we replace it; if slates are blown off we replace them.
Why was this villa left open to the destructive elements? Was it because it would strengthen the protests of those who claim it would cost £1.4 million to repair and so it should be demolished!
What is such a sum to those who have purchased Fairleigh House? What percentage is that of the profits made from their existing care homes?
The retention of our historic environment should not be sold off so cheaply. Think of all the businesses in Bothwell which are making a profit due to the fact that it is a rather prosperous village with a high percentage of high income earners. The historic ambience helps promote this ethos of it being a nice place to live as the owners of the care homes are well aware.
Therefore I urge those reading this to support us in the community who are firmly against the exploitation of our conservation status and historical heritage by making your views very clear to your local councillors as it is not yet “a done deal”.
John Rae Dear Editor
I do believe that Mr Harrison reflects the general view of SNP supporters.
Sadly he reinforces my view expressed in my letter of May 11, 2017, that the anti-westminster mantra is changing to an anti-english mantra when he says “533 of them are from English constituencies. Scotland has 59 MPS.” He goes on to state “what realistic input can we expect them to have in a system where they will always be outnumbered”. Why then is Nicola Sturgeon exhorting us to vote SNP when the very best outcome would add one MP to the useless band already there? Of course MPS are elected by the first past the post system and in an independent Scotland MSPS would be elected by proportional representation.
Under this system the SNP cannot even get its budget through without the help of the sycophantic Green Party. Indy Ref 2, bring it on.
John L. Rimmer (Sen) Hamilton Dear Editor
During the election campaign the SNP promised £1m per ward.
I hope they do not renege on this money for care homes and new places for the youth.
Councillor Bert Thomson Ward 15 - Blantyre Dear Editor
Every year, heart and circulatory disease kills around 15,500 in Scotland and currently, 670,000 people in the country are living with its burden.
The need to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat these terrible conditions is more urgent than ever.
That’s why I’m calling on everyone to take part in the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Wear it. Beat it. campaign. Join thousands of others across the UK on Friday, June 9, by wearing red and holding a fundraising event to help us stop heart disease in its tracks.
To sign up and receive a free fundraising pack full of ideas about how to get involved, visit wearitbeatit.bhf. org.uk
Murray Easton, British Heart Foundation Area Fundraising Manager Dear Editor
Join us at the Macdonald Crutherland House Hotel on Wednesday, May 31, from 6-8pm to hear from candidates of the major political parties about their policies and how they are likely to impact on the UK and the Lanarkshire business economy.
We will hold a Question Time style format for the event so please come prepared with any burning questions you would like to ask or any particular point you would like to make.
In addition, we will have time for some business networking prior to and after the main event. Refreshments will be provided. To register your place at the event, go to www.eventbrite.co.uk
Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce, Suite 4 Main Stand, Cadzow Avenue, Hamilton