Lanarkshire MSP brands school protestors ‘malicious’

Aug 21 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A LANARKSHIRE MSP this week accused campaigners opposed to the Uddingston Grammar project of conducting a “malicious” and “politically-motivated” campaign.

Hamilton North and Bellshill Labour MSP Michael McMahon made the comments following a decision by the Scottish Government not to use their powers to determine the revised planning application for the controversial £18.1m school.

Although South Lanarkshire approved the plan in June, it had to be referred to Ministers because the authority has an interest in the site, and the revised scheme attracted 46 objections.

The Scottish Government’s decision not to call in the application clears away the final planning hurdle for the council.

The plans were first approved in 2006, despite 1120 objections.

Opponents have long believed the Meadowbank flood plain, on which the school stands, is the wrong site – and have been critical of developer inspirED and the council’s planning department.

Mr McMahon said this week: “I wrote to the Scottish Executive on behalf of parents and staff concerned that objections were holding up the application.

“The Scottish Government has now decided there were no justifiable grounds for calling in the application – consequently South Lanarkshire can deal with it in any way they see fit.

“The views of Lanarkshire SNP politicians have been rejected by their own Government.

“(Central Scotland MSP) Alex Neil and (Uddingston councillor) Jim McGuigan’s actions have delayed the possibility of young people moving into a new school when the term starts – and for no other reason than a politically-motivated, and malicious, campaign against a Labour authority.”

“It is absolutely right that local people raise concerns over a planning application.

“But the council has provided information and addressed all the issues. Yet campaigners and politicians still have difficulty accepting that.

“It is time for Alex Neil and Jim McGuigan and others to apologise for delaying the pupils’ right to move into a brand new school at the start of the new term.”

But Mr McGuigan insisted this week that it was an “neglectful” planning department which was responsible for the delays.

“At every opportunity they have failed to monitor the situation as closely as they should have,” he said.

“Alex Neil, local residents and myself have been diligent in raising matters of just concern with the planning department like flooding.

“As much as anybody else we want to see a safe environment for staff and pupils to work in.

“It’s simply not accurate to say we are responsible for delaying the project.”

Mr Neil also accused South Lanarkshire Council of incompetence, adding the authority and Michael McMahon will rue the day the decision was made to build the school on a floodplain.

“The reality is that the current Scottish Government was left with no option,” he said.

“The real battle was to get the school built elsewhere, but that battle was lost.

“One of the reasons it was lost was because people like Michael McMahon put their loyalty to Labour councillors above their concern for the welfare and safety of all those who will use the school which is still on a floodplain.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said this week it believed it wasn’t necessary for ministers to be involved in the determination process for the school.

He said: “South Lanarkshire Council had been involved throughout the building’s construction, and we felt the council was best placed to determine this particular application.”

Pupils had been expected to enter the new school building this week.

But it emerged in June that officials were looking at an October, or even a January entry date, to ensure a “smooth transition.”