MP Michael Connarty has slammed local councillors
for their "lack of vision" for Bo'ness.
His scathing comments came after a site
visit to the award-winning Drum housing development.
Mr Connarty, who hopes to represent the
new East Falkirk and Linlithgow seat at the next general election,
spent nearly three hours at
The Drum with John Cadell of Grange Estates.
The MP also spoke
to families and representatives from the housebuilders.
Said Mr Connarty: "I found the layout and landscape design
at The Drum one of the best I have seen in 25 years of representative
involvement."
On the planned expansion into South Drum,
he said: " From my visit it was clear the proposed
location of the business park and hotel opposite The Drum
entrance would seem far enough removed
from Muirhouses to have little impact.
"It would be a major blow to the future
of Bo’ness if the regulatory
committee of Falkirk Council chaired by John Constable
took the proposals out of the local plan.
Prosperity
"It is all very well to try to revitalise
the town centre but Bo’ness
must make use of its strategic position if it is to achieve the
prosperity needed for the town's future.
"I represent the people
of Bo'ness in the UK parliament and I hold them in the highest
esteem. I am concerned their future and their
hopes for their children will be cut off by the lack of vision
of their council representatives."
Councillor Constable hit back: "Mr Connarty is foolish to allow
himself to be pulled along by less reputable people on the fringes
of the Bo'ness Labour Party "When the Falkirk area structure
plan was drawn up Drum Farm was dropped for business purposes, for
robust planning reasons.
"That view was supported by Mr Cadell
who agreed it was 'unsuitable and inappropriate.'
"If we are accused of having little vision, where does that leave
previous Labour administrations who had no vision at all
for Bo'ness?"
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