In a world… where SNP government ignores community and backs a film studio
I am a resident of Roslin, Midlothian, and have been, on and off, since the age of five. But never, until now, have I seen such an attack on what remains of our beautiful local countryside.
The development of vast film studios at Damhead, following its approval by the SNP government, is an outrage made in flagrant disregard of the wishes of the local community, the earlier decision of the local authority, the recommendations of an officially commissioned report and the advice of environmental bodies.
In the last few decades great swathes of our precious green belt around Straiton and Bilston have been obliterated for housing and retail parks and theirassociatedareasforparking. The rape of the agricultural and wild land around Damhead which the SNP administration has now waved through is on another scale of magnitude. We are told the studios will enable Scotland to host the filming of “blockbusters” – massive commercial ventures full of violence, grotesque fantasies and lavish displays of materialism – and for this, the destruction of the birds and wildlife of the area, the quiet vistas of our fields and views of the Pentlands, is considered by our current government a price worth paying.
It is hard to see what reason SNP ministers have for overriding the objections of so many community groups and other stakeholders, unless it was the desire to announce a so-called “good news” story with a promise of future jobs. The studios are presented as an initiative by the SNP administration but, ironically, the government bears no cost, as it is private backers who are pushing the project. We residents of Midlothian and future generations are the ones who will bear the cost.
I would urge the SNP to withdraw its support for this film studio development.
If there is to be such a studio it should be built elsewhere, perhaps where it will benefit a disadvantaged community rather than destroying the peace and beauty of our countryside.
JULIA H SCOTT
Station Road, Roslin