Local issues top of the list for councillor
Dear Editor,
I felt compelled to respond to Mr Hugh Mcclung’s letter (Observer, April 6), calling out a lack of representation and effort from Councillors Kane and Laurie with regards to the community council over the last five years.
What did disappoint me is that nowhere in Mr Mcclung’s letter did he identify the one councillor who has very rarely missed a meeting, always listens to the feedback from the community council, takes ownership of difficult situations and is a voice for the people of Stirling East Councillor Bryan Flannagan.
I appreciate that Hugh may not have wanted to nail any political colours to his mast, but to take the time to express his displeasure with the other councillors, only to exclude any mention of Councillor Flannagan seems unfair.
Regardless of political affiliation, credit where it is due.
As a resident of the local area, thank you Councillor Flannagan.
Your constant presence in our ward, your efforts with your constituents and your representation on our community council has led this lifelong Labour voter to change persuasion as I now realise the importance of local issues for local councillors.
You have my vote!
A grateful constituent Braehead
Retailparkfears Dear Editor,
With more than one in four working age people in Scotland unemployed, it comes as no surprise that Stirling’s Snp/labour controlled council want another major retail park in their fiefdom.
This is in spite of their own planning department having declined this development with concerns about its impact on Stirling’s beleaguered shopping streets and on those of neighbouring towns.
Even the SNP administration at Holyrood has reservations and may call in the application.
Clearly the attraction here (and votes) for the councillors is the jobs this park will allegedly create, the numbers of which seem to vary according to who is telling us.
Out of town retail parks have been around for more than a quarter of a century and have been generally successful.
Indeed, Marks & Spencer’s Food Store in Dunblane is one of their best performing outlets in the whole UK.
What is the reason for this? Quite simply the ready availability of free parking, a major issue in all our towns, made worse by increasing pedestrianisation and loss of short-term parking.
More retail parks can only further damage our shopping streets.
What is needed is more joined-up thinking from our elected representatives. Name and address supplied