Owenstown backers claim SLC made big mistake

IF THE council doesn’t want Owenstown built here in Clydesdale, there’s plenty elsewhere who do!
By Ron Harris
Published 10th Apr 2014, 08:00 BST
Owenstown vision...will move elsewhereOwenstown vision...will move elsewhere
Owenstown vision...will move elsewhere

That was the claim being made following last week’s rejection by South Lanarkshire Council of the £500 million scheme to build a new community on a site near Rigside.

At a special meeting, councillors unanimously rejected the offer to develop a 3200-home, 8000 population town complete with industries, shops, schools and a national institute for ‘green’ technology research.

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Council planning officers said that the damage to the economy of the surrounding area of such a huge development outweighed the advantages it might bring.

They also said that the site was too remote from public transport and might overload the existing roads infrastructure.

All these arguments were rejected this week by the scheme’s promoter, the Hometown Foundation, which said that, following the rejection, it had heard from councils and bodies elsewhere in Scotland, and England and Ireland, expressing interest in offering an alternative ‘home’ for Owenstown.

For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.

Related topics:ClydesdaleIrelandEngland