 Douglas Community Council (incorporating Glespin and surrounding area) | sitemap | log in
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True sense of community - Letter to Gazette editor 04 March 2010  True sense of communityDear Ed,
May I, on behalf of a very significant number of residents, thank all of the protesters for their tremendous effort of opposition to the Mainshill opencast site over the last seven months, which included some of the worst winter weather in a
 century.From the outset, the scale of the fight to prevent the inevitable pollution associated with this operation was clear when, on a political level, only our current MP was prepared to provide token support in his stated objection to the plans.
All other politicians remained at arms' length, with the exceptions of one local politician and one former local politician.
Despite the concerns expressed by vast numbers of residents for the health and wellbeing of their families, especially those with young children, these concerns remain ignored.
The distribution of the Coal Health Study to residents, politicians, medical professions and landowners, highlighting the comparative unusually high incidence of disease and calling for thorough independent investigations, although unchallenged, has been similarly ignored.
Instead both the coal company and the landowners have preferred to fulfil their pursuit of profit, as is the nature and priority with all private companies.
No one who lives in the Douglas Valley should be in any doubt that actions speak louder than words. Shareholder interests will always be paramount to both of these companies; you and your family will always be a secondary consideration.
The undue haste to exploit this particular site concurrently with four other operational coal sites within the area may best be explained by the increase in coal prices from $30 / tonne in January 2000 to $219 / tonne in July 2008 representing an asset value for Mainshill of $372.3 million the profits of which will be shared by the coal company and the landowner.
 No doubt the request made by the local GP that Scottish Coal pay for Douglas cottage hospital to be fitted with double glazing to prevent dust ingress will be met but this will not protect patients who may wish to enjoy some time in the grounds of the hospital which until now have provided a fillip to many long term patients with its beautiful scenic setting Perhaps in time, when elections are due and the NHS once again becomes the priority for all would-be members of both parliaments, the focus will return to the health of the potential voters; promises will be made that no stone will be left unturned to discover the cause of the 60 per cent increase in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease incidence, 44 per cent increase in asthma and 250 per cent increase in cancer rates in the Douglasdale Practice Area since 2005.
In an age when communities are becoming increasingly fractured and disparate and "community"
 needs are hijacked for the benefit of others, there are lessons to be learnt from Mainshill, none more so than the true community demonstrated by residents and protesters alike in common cause against this particular proposal and the detrimental effects it will bring to Douglas cottage hospital. The commitment and belief in their cause and the respect for others shown by the protesters, who are in the main from our younger generation, was at times humbling and many local myths were dispelled by the ability to endure extreme conditions, even drawing grudging admiration from opponents.The time has surely come when decisions such as Mainshill should face more intense public scrutiny and such decisions should be made in the interest of society as a whole and not for the benefit of the privileged few assisted by their sycophantic hangers-on as they scramble for the crumbs falling from the rich man's table.
Yours etc. Adam Lawson,
Douglas. Carluke & Lanark Gazette 4/3/10
Pictures from the top
To read more about the Mainshill protest, click on the link below |
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