Sauchie could become a 'ghetto'

Iain Robertson • Published 11 Sep 2009 14:22 1 Comment

AN SNP councillor says parts of Sauchie could be turned into a ghetto after proposals to build another homeless shelter in the village were given the go ahead.

Residents are incensed that Sauchie will site the new accommodation when there is already a homeless unit at Lochbrae.

They fear an increase in crime, anti-social behaviour and vandalism will stem from the unwanted facility, and oppose the buildings being located next to the new community hospital.

SNP councillor Gary Womersley said, "Some areas of Sauchie are already extremely deprived on the national scale and this could create yet another homeless ghetto in the village."

Sauchie residents who attended last week's meeting of the planning committee were equally against the proposals, with Margaret Horne telling the committee that she didn't even want to contemplate the idea.

Fed up

She added, "We've had to live with them for years and are sick fed up with it."

Christine Nicholson added, "Trees are mentioned in this report 44 times but there is no mention of the people in the community. This unit is most suitable for a city, not a village."

However, Councillor Sam Ovens, portfolio holder for regeneration, gave his backing to the homeless shelter, claiming B&Bs are not the answer in solving the issue of homelessness. He told the committee that the health board backed the unit, which he said would help the council meet its statutory duty in relation to homeless accommodation.

He was supported by fellow Labour councillor Bobby McGill, who believed any fears the unit will lead to an increase in crime could be allayed by the fact the police did not object to the positioning of the unit. He added that a concierge system would be employed, similar to one being used in Clackmannan and proving successful.

Funding

The plans by Ochilview Housing Association are for 25 flats for people with short-term housing needs, ancillary office, management assessment and reception at Hallpark Annexe, Hallpark, Sauchie. The association has been awarded £2 million by the Scottish Government specifically for this project.

An Ochilview Housing spokesperson explained that an element of this year's allocation had been brought forward from future years by the Scottish Government to boost the resources available to housing associations and to assist with the economic recovery through the construction industry.

Any resources not spent in the current financial year are likely to be re-allocated to projects in other areas of the country.

George Tainsh, director of Ochilview, said, "Any delay in obtaining planning permission for the development would have resulted in a delay to the project timetable thus making it impossible to ensure that the expenditure allocated could be spent by the end of March 2010.

"This, in turn, would have given the Scottish Government the opportunity to re-allocate the £2 million elsewhere."

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Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Gary Robertson
  Unregistered User
  Sep 16, 11:13
  Report comment

  This is absolutely disgusting behaviour by Clackmannanshire Council. Being a resident of the Hutton Park area, I know of the problems that the COuncil have dragged their heels in helping the community. We still suffer from Anti-Social beahviour and the council keeps putting more of them into the area. Now, we are expected to take more problems in the area. Sauchie has done well in trying to deal with the problems in their area, much of it due to Derek Stewart who HAS HELPED in both Sauchie and Hutton Park. But this decision just blows all that apart.
  
  I would like reassurance for the community of Sauchie and Hutton PArk if the council is willing to listen to the people and deal with the anti-social behaviour. The time for talking has now long gone, in Hutton Park it has taken 7 to 10 years and still nothing. We agree that a homeless assessment centre is required, however, this should be in a part where limited disruption will take place. or is it a case that Sauchie and Hutton Park are being used for a dumping ground for undesirables. let the council explain their decision to the public through the media. There has been lots of objections regarding the assessment centre that has been ignore. We want to know why. Surely, there are better places to build a centre like this. The Council forgets who pays the wages. It's about time they listened to their employers (the public).
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

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