Protect us from effects of big business

Feb 14 2008

I refer to the article in the Advertiser of January 17, which said that ASDA propose to erect a new £25m store on the campus of the current Larkhall Academy.

As objectors to the original proposal by Keppie for this area, and after constant proposals put to the planners, we managed to get an acceptable outcome — to reduce the housing plan to 375 houses.

We now hear that ASDA are trying to force through an objection to the Local Plan.

This would see an increase in traffic past a sheltered housing complex, a new school campus, a leisure centre and a proposed new housing development.

Beyond the boundary of the current Larkhall Academy campus is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and a Special Area of Conservation.

There is a need to protect our environment and we need green spaces with acceptable proposals. We also think that the environmental agencies should try to intervene, as they did with the council’s plan.

There are at present industrial properties lying empty with enough space to accommodate this project, with sufficient space for car parking and cargo bays for deliveries. These should be looked at before impinging on the residential area nearby.

Traffic management on the possible exits on to Church Street and MacNeil Street would be unmanageable and unviable at any time of the day, but especially at peak periods of the school day.

We now see in a Sunday newspaper an article that Walmart/ASDA are the main bidders to take over the Somerfield stores. Does this mean that Larkhall is going to lose a fine food store? Is Larkhall going to become a ghost town due to pressures of big business?

Ann Rankin, secretary, Friends of Morgan Glen.