Do not forget Scotland’s original new towns

Sir, - Should we applaud Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson’s call (September 2) for a fresh wave of new towns?

Her case for them seems to be that they would help the housing crisis and, in particular, the needs of first-time buyers.

Building new communities is bit more complicated than that and needs to take into account a number of things.

This includes employment in a digital age, transport and leisure provision.

It will need, in short, a degree of planning and her party has traditionally been suspicious of such government intervention on a large scale.

That is not to say that the private sector cannot be the engine that takes the new towns forward.

It will still need a wide degree of co-operation with local councils and Holyrood if her ambitions are to be realised.

It is to be hoped Ms Davidson will not ignore, too, the situation in the former new towns like Glenrothes and East Kilbride, both 70 years old next year.

They served not just to create homes to help ease the scandal of slum housing after the Second World War. For many years they served as growth points to help rejuvenate the Scottish economy.

Many of the industries that helped them flourish are long gone. They badly need a fresh injection of both public and private investment.

Hopefully the Conservative leader will not forget their plight as she puts forward her argument for new communities and new standards of housing. Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.

One of the entrances to the Kingdom Centre in the former new town of Glenrothes.