A change of venue has been announced for a local inquiry where the future of the Eastwood parliamentary constituency will be considered.
In recent months, proposals were published by Boundaries Scotland for the composition of Scottish Parliament constituencies at future elections and Eastwood was excluded from the list of first past the post seats.
As part of the plans, the Eastwood communities of Clarkston, Busby, Giffnock and Thornliebank would be merged with areas such as Carnwadric, Kennishead and Priesthill in a new Glasgow Priesthill and Giffnock constituency.
Newton Mearns, Waterfoot and Eaglesham would be amalgamated into an amended Renfrewshire South constituency with communities including Howwood, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch.
The proposed constituencies of Glasgow Priesthill and Giffnock, Renfrewshire South, Paisley and Renfrew and Renfrewshire West will be the subject of local inquiry meetings to take place on Thursday 14th December.
The Busby Hotel had initially been chosen as the location for the Eastwood hearing but the venue has now been changed to the Parklands Hotel and Country Club in Newton Mearns. The inquiry will take place from 6pm-8pm.
The scheduling of another inquiry meeting to consider the constituency proposals from 2pm-4pm at the Lynnhurst Hotel near Paisley on 14th December remains unchanged.
Local residents can request to speak at the inquiry by e-mailing - [email protected]
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood Jackson Carlaw said:
“The published proposals to disband Eastwood should be a non-starter and the constituency must be retained as a distinct parliamentary seat.
“The plans are completely at odds with the geographical identity held by large numbers of people who live within Eastwood.
“Perhaps my own life experience illustrates this point as I was born in a maternity home located just off Fenwick Road and I have lived variably in communities sited across the proposed new constituency boundaries including Clarkston, Waterfoot, Giffnock and Newton Mearns.
“I would argue my own life experience is typical of many who live in this distinct community as our relationships and history are generally across Eastwood and East Renfrewshire once we become resident.
“As part of the consultation process on the constituency proposals, I strongly objected to the plans to break-up Eastwood and I will be speaking at the December inquiry to highlight the importance of maintaining the parliamentary seat.”
