Rejected Motion a Blow To Bainsford

The refusal of the current Labour / Tory Administration to support an SNP program for the regeneration of commercial centres is a blow to communities such as Bainsford claimed Falkirk North SNP Councillor, Cecil Meiklejohn.

The recently elected SNP member seconded the motion moved by SNP Economic Development spokesperson Angus MacDonald that an audit of the needs of smaller communities required to be undertaken to bring about the regeneration of these areas.

Mr MacDonald had outlined the progress made by the previous SNP / Independent Administration in the regeneration of the four main district centres of Bo'ness, Denny, Grangemouth and Stenhousemuir. Work is already underway in Stenhousemuir and Bo'ness with plans for Denny and Grangemouth being progressed.

In addition Mr MacDonald pointed to proposals for the inclusion of Falkirk Town Centre as a "Business Improvement District" as evidence that Falkirk had not lost out on the proposals advanced by the previous administration also.

However, the SNP member pointed out that contained within the SNP manifesto was a commitment to include smaller centres of population within the next phase of the regeneration project and the SNP were committed to achieving this as soon as possible.

Speaking after he meeting in which Councillor Meiklejohn had made an impassioned plea for the Labour and Tory Councillors to support the SNP motion the Nationalist Councillor outlined her concerns for the future of communities such as Bainsford.

Mrs Meiklejohn was also scathing of her fellow Falkirk North colleagues, the Labour members Provost Pat Reid and Craig Martin, who voted against the regeneration call.

She said

"This was a huge opportunity to make a difference in communities such as Bainsford and I am disappointed that the joint Labour / Tory Administration refused to support us in this.

It is ironic that they recognised the worth of the SNP / Independent Administration's success in the larger district centres but have refused to follow the natural succession into the smaller areas.

Communities such as Bainsford do not fit into the Village Centre category that Labour claim is their priority and so it appears that the likes of Bainsford and Grahamston to name but two are to be left to rot by this do nothing Administration."

The SNP Councillor was joined by fellow Falkirk North party colleague, David Alexander in pledging to continue the fight for a change to current policy on regeneration.

Said Cllr Alexander

"We have ambitions for Bainsford even if the Labour and Conservative coalition that are running Falkirk Council haven't.

The Housing led regeneration program started by the previous SNP / Independent Administration is ripe for tweaking to include commercial and retail development as well as extension into the Main Street of Bainsford itself.

We may not have the support of Provost Reid and his colleagues on this matter but we do have the support of the people of Bainsford and I believe that will be our ace card for forcing a rethink of this snub to the people of Bainsford."