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East Dunbartonshire Council's SNP depute group leader and Councillor for Bishopbriggs South, Gordan Low, has welcomed the decision by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland at its February meeting to adopt its Revised Recommendations for the Princes Gate area of Bishopbriggs as its Final Recommendations to Scottish Ministers.
The Commission's Provisional Proposals published last May would have seen around 40 homes and a major potential affordable housing site next to the Aldi supermarket move from the East Dunbartonshire Council area to the City of Glasgow. Following overwhelming opposition from local residents, the Commission is now recommending (subject to confirmation by Ministers) 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 and, disappointingly, 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 2009, and whose own submission to the Boundary Commission formed the basis of the Council's official response in August, commented:
"Local residents made a strong case against the proposals to take Princes Gate out of East Dunbartonshire and, as ward councillor, I have been committed to supporting them in their campaign to have these proposals overturned.
"The residents of Princes Gate specifically chose to live in this area, and have maintained and developed their community links with the rest of Bishopbriggs over the years. The provisional proposals would have dislocated these links, and, in addition, would have seen East Dunbartonshire lose an affordable housing site desperately needed in the Auchinairn area.
"While I am disappointed that the Local Government Boundary Commission has not accepted our arguments over Wester Lumloch and has persisted with its plans to divide that settlement, I am delighted common sense has prevailed as regards Princes Gate and that the Commission has listened to the views of the local community."
Author : Cllr Gordan Low
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