Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 16 March 2011
16 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Denny Town Centre Regeneration
On the basis of Ms Mitchell’s contribution, in the main.
Hugh O’Donnell stole my thunder somewhat. Like him, I live in Cumbernauld, which, as he mentioned, won the carbuncle award in 2001 and 2005. I was going to say—only in a jocular fashion, of course—that it might be useful to have another dismal town centre nearby to draw attention away from Cumbernauld town centre. Interestingly, it was the residents of Denny who asked for the carbuncle award to be awarded to the town. Some people might think that that was out of a sense of shame in their town, but I think that they are to be congratulated on being proud enough of their town to recognise that a problem exists in relation to the town centre and on their being willing to take a fairly drastic step to highlight that problem.
In 2001, when Cumbernauld received the carbuncle award, the then editor of the local newspaper said:
“I think the people of Cumbernauld are very proud of their town, but they are very ashamed of their town centre.”
It seems pretty clear that there is a similar experience in Denny, where the people are willing to stand up and say that the town centre does not match their pride in their town and that something must be done. When the carbuncle award was once again awarded to Cumbernauld, in 2005, the then director of planning and environment at North Lanarkshire Council, David Porch, was very defensive and said that, in the council’s opinion, it was a “ridiculous” award. It seems to me that Falkirk Council has adopted exactly the same position regarding Denny, saying that it is disappointed by the move to apply for the award. I advise Ms Mitchell that that is where the complacency comes in. It seems that Falkirk Council would rather bury its head in the sand than tackle the problem head on. Michael Matheson set out clearly the lack of support that there has been for redeveloping Denny town centre.
The town centre regeneration fund would have provided an ideal opportunity for Denny town centre; however, having looked into it, I do not believe that there was any real application to it by Falkirk Council. I see that the council is going to improve the traffic lights in Denny town centre using funding from the town centre regeneration fund. That is all well and good, but Denny does not need just new traffic lights; to use a traffic light metaphor, it needs green for go for a proper regeneration of the town centre.
Once again, I congratulate Michael Matheson on his campaign, and I congratulate the residents of Denny and Dunipace on their campaign, too.
12:37
Hugh O’Donnell stole my thunder somewhat. Like him, I live in Cumbernauld, which, as he mentioned, won the carbuncle award in 2001 and 2005. I was going to say—only in a jocular fashion, of course—that it might be useful to have another dismal town centre nearby to draw attention away from Cumbernauld town centre. Interestingly, it was the residents of Denny who asked for the carbuncle award to be awarded to the town. Some people might think that that was out of a sense of shame in their town, but I think that they are to be congratulated on being proud enough of their town to recognise that a problem exists in relation to the town centre and on their being willing to take a fairly drastic step to highlight that problem.
In 2001, when Cumbernauld received the carbuncle award, the then editor of the local newspaper said:
“I think the people of Cumbernauld are very proud of their town, but they are very ashamed of their town centre.”
It seems pretty clear that there is a similar experience in Denny, where the people are willing to stand up and say that the town centre does not match their pride in their town and that something must be done. When the carbuncle award was once again awarded to Cumbernauld, in 2005, the then director of planning and environment at North Lanarkshire Council, David Porch, was very defensive and said that, in the council’s opinion, it was a “ridiculous” award. It seems to me that Falkirk Council has adopted exactly the same position regarding Denny, saying that it is disappointed by the move to apply for the award. I advise Ms Mitchell that that is where the complacency comes in. It seems that Falkirk Council would rather bury its head in the sand than tackle the problem head on. Michael Matheson set out clearly the lack of support that there has been for redeveloping Denny town centre.
The town centre regeneration fund would have provided an ideal opportunity for Denny town centre; however, having looked into it, I do not believe that there was any real application to it by Falkirk Council. I see that the council is going to improve the traffic lights in Denny town centre using funding from the town centre regeneration fund. That is all well and good, but Denny does not need just new traffic lights; to use a traffic light metaphor, it needs green for go for a proper regeneration of the town centre.
Once again, I congratulate Michael Matheson on his campaign, and I congratulate the residents of Denny and Dunipace on their campaign, too.
12:37
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman)
Lab
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S3M-7682, in the name of Michael Matheson, on Denny town centre regeneration. The debate wi...
Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome a number of the local residents of Denny and Dunipace who have come here for this debate because it is on a very important issue in their community...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Michael Matheson’s motion is in three parts. The first part asserts that“there is widespread dissatisfaction among residents in the Denny and Dunipace area r...
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD)
LD
My congratulations go to Michael Matheson on bringing the issue to the chamber, and on his extensive knowledge of the locality. For my sins, or otherwise, I ...
Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
I apologise to the member. I did not see him sitting up there at the back.
Michael McMahon
Lab
The Denny area is represented by the constituency MSP who is leading the debate. The other members who are taking part are list MSPs for the area. Labour doe...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
The distinction is an interesting one. It is not relevant, however. I apologise again to Mr McMahon. I did not see him sitting up there at the back. Given th...
Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, congratulate Michael Matheson on securing the debate. I welcome residents from Denny and Dunipace to the public gallery.I, too, think that it is disa...
Michael McMahon
Lab
I came to the chamber to pick up papers for this afternoon’s debate on the local government finance orders. There is no Labour representative in the Parliame...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
That was a very useful clarification. There is no interest from the Labour Party in Denny town centre. It is also very useful to know that Mr McMahon is sitt...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
On what basis can the member say that there is complacency from the Conservatives on the council?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
On the basis of Ms Mitchell’s contribution, in the main.Hugh O’Donnell stole my thunder somewhat. Like him, I live in Cumbernauld, which, as he mentioned, wo...
The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil)
SNP
I, too, congratulate Michael Matheson not just on obtaining the debate, but on the tremendous work that he has done, especially for Denny and Dunipace, first...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
I take it that the minister is referring to the motion, which talks about dissatisfaction among the residents about the regeneration process and how it is be...
Alex Neil
SNP
I am referring to both the need for regeneration and the regeneration process—or, as the local people would say, the lack of a regeneration process.Two or th...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
As Michael Matheson pointed out, the problem is long standing. It predates the current economic circumstances, regardless of who is to blame for them. Conseq...
Alex Neil
SNP
I have visited Falkirk Council to discuss regeneration in general and the needs of certain areas in particular. Of course, every council faces the challenges...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Neil
SNP
I am afraid that I do not have time.There is plenty that can be done with a bit of imagination and leadership. If Falkirk Council comes to me as the regenera...