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East Dunbartonshire Council's SNP depute group leader and Councillor for Bishopbriggs South, Gordan Low, has welcomed revised recommendations published on 29th October by the Local Government Boundary Commission for the Princes Gate area of Bishopbriggs.
The Commission's provisional proposals published in May would have seen around 40 homes and a major affordable housing site next to the Aldi supermarket moved from the East Dunbartonshire Council area to the City of Glasgow. Following overwhelming opposition from local residents, the Commission is now recommending that the entire Princes Gate Estate (including eight properties currently on the Glasgow side) and the affordable housing site remain in Bishopbriggs, with only the supermarket itself and one property at Wester Lumloch moving to Glasgow.
Cllr Low, who was the first elected representative to ensure that East Dunbartonshire Council's Policy and Resources Committee stood out against the Commission's initial proposals in February, and whose own submission to the Boundary Commission formed the basis of the Council's official response in August, commented:
"I am very relieved that the Boundary Commission has accepted the strength of the case against their provisional proposals, which caused considerable distress and anger for local residents who had purchased their homes in Bishopbriggs in good faith. The residents of Princes Gate specifically chose to live in this area, and have maintained and developed their links with the rest of Bishopbriggs over the years. The provisional proposals would have dislocated community links and caused significant financial loss for existing residents, while, in addition, East Dunbartonshire stood to lose an affordable housing site desperately needed in the Auchinairn area."
The Commission's revised recommendations now go out for a further 12 weeks consultation, and Cllr Low is urging residents to write to the Commission supporting the revised proposals for Princes Gate and urging that Wester Lumloch also be retained within Bishopbriggs. He added:
"Local residents are to be congratulated for standing their ground and forcing the Commission to see sense. I know a considerable amount of effort has been put in since February, within the community, at Council level, and through a motion of support tabled in the Scottish Parliament by Stuart McMillan MSP. Despite initially ignoring our concerns, the Commission has now effectively adopted almost exactly the counter-proposal advocated by local residents and endorsed by the Council in August. The only disappointment is in persisting with their proposal to split Wester Lumloch, and I would call for that to be revisited."
"However, although we have already achieved a major climb-down by the Commission, it is important that we follow this up by ensuring that they continue to hear local views throughout the next 12 weeks of public consultation."
Author : Cllr Gordan Low
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