Public meeting to address controversial change of plan for Lockerbie park projects
Locals are encouraged to head along and have their say
Last updated 10th Nov 2023
A public meeting is set to take place in Lockerbie Town Hall this evening, following local outcry over a change in plan for two community park projects.
Organisers are encouraging locals to head along for 8:00pm on Wednesday the 27th of September to share their views.
It comes after The Lockerbie Trust, who had been leading on the effort, announced they wouldn’t be progressing with major redevelopment plans for McJerrow and King Edward’s Parks last week.
But, trustees have since reconsidered their stance and are now looking to support the council to take the project forward.
The Lockerbie Trust have been invited to the meeting this evening, where local Councillors will also be present.
Handling of the situation has been criticised
Speaking on the evolving situation, Councillor Carolyne Wilson said: “It is clear that the anger from the people of Lockerbie, who quite rightly demanded their voice was heard, has forced the Trustees to rethink their decision, but it should never have come to this and was completely avoidable.”
Also raising concern over how the matter has been handled is South of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth, who says he’ll be taking action:
“I am really saddened by the way Lockerbie Trust ignored the views of the local community when they decided how to allocate funds, and the lack of transparency in their decisions.
“No one is in any doubt that for Trustees this was more about pursuing their pet projects than listening to the community.
“It is clear that when the public rejected what the Lockerbie Trust wanted, the Trustees acted like someone on a football pitch walking off with their ball because they didn’t like the result. But in this case, it wasn’t a ball it was hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Trustees forgot this wasn’t their money, it was gifted to the people of Lockerbie.
“Given the sheer number of concerns I have received, I will be passing them to the independent charity watchdog.”
The meeting will run from 8:00-9:00pm in Lockerbie Town Hall.