Latest News
| Housing Minister Slaps Down Cathie Craigie over Cumbernauld High Rise Flats | |
|
Housing Minister Alex Neil MSP has angrily slapped down Cathie Craigie MSP over her suggestion that the Scottish Government had tried to "impose" a policy of demolition for the high rise flats in Cumbernauld. Speaking in a debate on regeneration in the Scottish Parliament on 3rd March Ms Craigie said that the Scottish Government had "told the community what it should want from the regeneration of the flats." During his summing up of the debate Mr Neil reacted angrily to this suggestion telling the Parliament that "Cathie Craigie's description of the situation with the high rise flats in Cumbernauld was totally alien to the true situation". He added that "the idea that the Scottish Government has laid down what should happen to the high rise flats in Cumbernauld is absurd to say the least." Mr Neil said that Ms Craigie had deliberately misled the Parliament by alleging that people living in the high rise flats were being "told from the top down" what to do. But Mr Neil insisted that as Housing Minister he had made it clear to all parties involved that he would only support a solution on which there had been thorough and real consultation with all those affected Unfortunately the rules governing what the Scottish Government can fund in these situations had been drawn up by previous Labour Ministers, which restrict how public money can be used, for example, for renovation rather than demolition. In a statement issued after the debate Mr Neil said he regretted that Cathie Craigie had tried to play party politics with such a serious issue. He added: "The fact is that there are varying views amongst the residents about what the best option is for the flats. Cathie Craigie has told me she firmly supports demolition. That is her prerogative. But all along since I became Housing Minister I have insisted that all those involved must have a full opportunity to have their say. I only wish Ms Craigie had adopted the same approach as I have from the beginning rather than trying to stir up further unnecessary and unwarranted divisions within the community on this issue." |
|
|