Parliament Workbench
Data: Official Report to 12 Nov 2026

Official Report · Committee

New Petitions

New Towns (PE887)

Wednesday 5 October 2005 Public Petitions Committee Petitions 4 contributions · 2 speakers

Speakers

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The record

4 contributions
Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Petition PE887, which was submitted by the Rev Neil MacKinnon, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to review the long-term planning, social, economic and transportation issues that relate to the creation of new towns, such as Cumbernauld. Before being formally lodged, the petition was hosted on the e-petitions website where, from 4 July 2005 to 23 September 2005, it gathered 424 signatures. The usual e-petition briefing has been circulated.The petitioner's concern is that although Cumbernauld is a town of strategic importance in the central belt, it is widely regarded as having one of the worst town centres in Britain. The petitioner is particularly concerned about inappropriate planning decisions, such as the routing of the A80 and A8011 through the heart of the town, and about the poor design and upkeep of the town centre. Do members have any ideas about how to deal with the petition?

Sandra White SNP Glasgow
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I will not say whether I agree or disagree with the petition. Unfortunately, Cumbernauld has won not very good awards. We need to have the views of North Lanarkshire Council, Architecture and Design Scotland, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Scottish Executive.

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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We will ask for general views on such issues. The petition is about Cumbernauld town centre, but we must couch our request in terms of seeking information about town centres in general. A new planning policy on town centres was announced recently, so it would be useful for the petition to be addressed in the context of the wider issues. Sandra White's suggestion would give us that scope in considering responses. Are members happy to do that?Members indicated agreement.

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
link

That was the last of our new petitions.

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