EFFORTS to transform Alva’s brownfield “eyesores” into affordable housing, is an area attracting support from candidates across the political spectrum.

While on the campaign trails, many of the Clackmannanshire North hopefuls say they often hear concerns about derelict wastelands in the town.

Indeed, the matter is one which is often aired during community council meetings, with the site of the old Alva Glen Hotel a source of much frustration for residents and business owners.

Though development plans appear to show works are progressing, there are other former mill sites in the town which are “ripe” for more housing. But as many candidates suggest, areas of partnership working would be necessary to ensure projects go forward.

Donald Balsillie, running for the SNP in the ward area, said: “The main issue with brownfield sites is that the majority of them are in private hands and therefore very difficult to influence.

“Even then, those that are in public hands, such as the remainder of the school site, it’s still hard to attract developers to Clacks.

“But we will be looking at new incentive schemes to work with private developers to encourage them to work with us here.”

His sentiments were largely echoed by Labour hopeful Bobby McGill who said: “There are a lot of brownfield sites in Alva that have potential for housing, but we have to make the area more attractive.

“We need to talk the place up and make it worthwhile to build homes in the area, as opposed to Stirling or Falkirk.

“They are turning into eyesores; no one is looking after them. For me, using these brownfield sites instead of greenfield would be a much better way to go.

“Our population, across the whole of Clackmannanshire is going down so we have to bring more families to live and stay in places like Alva.”

Dave Clark, candidate for Labour, suggested the creation of a small retirement village might be on the cards.

He said: “I’m determined to make Alva the pretty village it once was and I’d be looking for a more pragmatic approach.

“Planners need to become part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem.”

SNP candidate Archie Drummond said: “One of the first things I worked on, when elected, was the compulsory purchase of the Alva Glen Hotel, but at the 11th hour there was a private sector intervention.

“Had the council been able to proceed the way I wanted, people would be living in houses there right now.”

Fellow SNP hopeful Helen Lewis added: “Rest assured, the SNP will push to get more social housing stock and will try to help develop as many brownfield sites as possible.

“We sold off too much of our housing stock with the right to buy scheme. We’re getting back slowly, but it won’t happen overnight.”

The Conservatives’ Martha Benny also argued for affordable housing, should brownfield sites become open for development.

She said: “A lot of these areas are ripe for development and I would say lower-priced housing would be the most suitable thing for them.

“Getting more people into the town and keeping them there will help slow the regeneration of the area.

“I would be happy to pick up this issue at council, if elected, and help drive it forward.”