Challenging the Town Centre Update Excuses from Falkirk Council

Deny
Demolishing the last of the blocks down to Stirling Street level, they are then going to build it all back up again - to make access as difficult as possible for the community! Re-routing the main traffic down Davies Row, it will cut off Broompark Community Centre from the rest of the town. Creating a wide open expanse at Denny Cross, in winter it will be a Baltic wilderness!
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Summer 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Green Light for Final Stages Misnomer

The latest Newsletter from Falkirk Council should be taken with a huge pinch of salt. Despite vocal opposition from local residents, Falkirk Councils Planning Committee approved their own flawed plan - against the wishes of the Denny & Dunipace community! It was a travesty. Here are a few home truths regarding Falkirk Councils scheme. Disabled access to the library & shops will be improved - only from a car! Ramps & gradients & steps & concrete blocks will populate and obstruct access around the town. Resembling an over-sized Swiss chalet, the new building will look completely out of context within the traditional streetscape of our town.

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Regeneration-of-Denny-Town

...it certainly isnt Denny!

Final Stages? What Final Stages?

continued ...

Councillor Brian McCabe, Esnocomic Development Loftporlio spokesman said: The design is being imposed on the people of Denny by those who have no connection or interest in the wellbeing of the town. Disruption to our town has already meant the loss of 19 or more retailers, with only the threatened library and one single retailer being accommodated in the Councils temporary retail village. The delayed demolition works, which have taken over 8 years to reach this stage and will take another 3 years until full completion, have seen a welcome improvement to the town centres environs. Raymond Murray owner of The Card Rack on Stirling Street said: The demolition has allowed the town to be opened up to wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. It hasnt brought a single increase in customer numbers to either my own or the other retailers facilities in the town. The Council can bluster all that they want on specialist landscape architects and engaging with disability groups during the development phase. They havent to date! And its too late in the day to pretend that they will have any influence now. A further indication of the complete lack respect shown towards our residents by Falkirk Council is in their decision to clad the chalet in stained timber cladding, completely rejecting the peoples opposition to the proposal. The community HATE the idea of having their town vandalised yet again by using such a material. The Council did it 937 days ago when they temporarily re-plastered the blocks. How good did that look?
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Deny

A Cynical Distraction
An important element of the regeneration Summer 2005 project is the question of relocating the 5 2006 replica commemorative plaques, but it is simply that - an element - of the much 2007 2008 wider, major construction works involved in our new town centre. It should not be 2009 used as a cynical distraction from the 2010 severe lack of consultation with the 2011 local community! 2012

2013

NAIG Enocomic Development Fortporlio spokesman, Councillor Brian McCabe, said: I have written to Craig Martin, Leader of Falkirk Council on at least half a dozen occasions, demanding that he respect the views of the majority of the local community. If he is confident that he represents the wishes of the people then he should be willing to host a full Public Meeting in Denny to illustrate that support. 6 times I have asked him for that meeting; 6 times he has refused!

Step-Up Denny Rally

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SNP Councillor Martin Oliver addressing assembled members of the public.

Denny Town Centre Activities

Diminishing Retailers
Since 2005 when Falkirk Council engaged with Henry Boot PLC on this failed project of town centre regeneration we have lost Spar; the Card & Gift Shop; William Hill; the Police Office; Naylors Opticians; the Omar Restaurant; Cruse Deals; the Mobile Phone Shop; Denny Electrics; the Nail Salon; Moss the Chemists; the Golf Shop; RG Marshall, Solicitors; the Beauty Salon; Ocean Hairdressers; the Express Video Store, ... not to name countless others!

At the recent Step-Up Denny rally, 222 letters of REJECTION were collected and forwarded to Craig Martin, Falkirk Council Leader. He wrote to the 222 people in response and arrogantly dismissed their position with the following comment - You will no doubt understand that I do not share the views of those members of the Denny community. How insulting is that? Someone who doesnt live in the town knows better than all those who do, and had categorically REJECTED his proposals.

...if theres any left! www.facebook.com/pages/The-Regeneration-of-Denny-Town

Alternative Views ... Others Views ... YOUR Views!

Despite Falkirk Councils administration repetitively claiming local community support for their flawed plan, they have singularly failed to provide evidence to back up their position. : 4m of steps to one gable end of the library : a 60m walk, up a continuous gradient at the opposite gable end : a glass balustraded Community Terrace : concrete/stone block seating - to permit residents to ... rest if they get tired when walking to the library! How ridiculous is that? Disabled access (they say) is available from the car-park in Davies Row and from designated parking spaces on Stirling Street. So, tough! if you dont have a car and wish to visit both the library and Stirling Street in one visit. Youll just have to fend for yourself. Its either the steps or the 60m ramp.

The World View

Pavel Kulagin
Dennys current predicament has been recognised around the world. A young Russian architectural student, Pavel Kulagin, has prepared his own wonderful plans for the town centre. It really is quite astonishing that this gifted young student has been able to capture the essence of the town; its needs and aspirations; and present his own interpretation in such a comendable and praiseworthy scheme, whereas our own council cannot!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/ ?set=a.102007 35314965866.10737418 25.1251756407&type=1&l=dba9165ac3

Below, a couple of exciting visuals from the gifted young Russian, Pavel.

Opposition to the Councils plans has not only come from individual members of the community, various Tenants Resident Associations have also written to Cllr Craig Martin to register their disquiet over his personal position. You have been copied into an e-mail from Godfrey Avenue TRA and we, Glenwood TRA wholeheartedly support their position, said the Secretary of Glenwood TRA. There are other TRAs of a similar persuasion.

At what point do you think it untenable for Cllr Craig Martin to maintain his stance over the lack of community consulation and to GENUINELY listen and respect the views of the local community?

Timetable Record
April 2005: Falkirk Council appoint Henry Boot PLC as Developer. September 2011: Falkirk Council dismiss Henry Boot as Developer! 2007: Detailed planning application expected. Didnt happen! 2008: Planning application expected in spring. Didnt happen here either! 2009: Formal planning applications will be submitted. Nope! Still didnt happen! 2010: A detailed planning application expected in 2011. Lets miss a year! 2011: Henry Boot dismissed. Still no application! 2012: TWO planning applications submitted! Hurrah! 2013: Block demolition eventually commences. 2014: Final block begins demolition. Although TSB remains until 2017. 2015: Actual construction begins! 2016: Construction continues. 2017: First block completion. TSB possibly begins demolition. This rather makes a mockery of the Councils stated aim to ... deliver the town centre as quickly as possible does it not? The Temporary Retail Village will house the library and one shop, early next year. Hardly a Village! Councils timetable is euphemistically dependant on a number of factors!

A New Vision for Denny

... not just a Square
We currently dont have a Square. We dont necessarily need a Square. And certainly not one sited at the most problematic junction in Falkirk!

Council rather than Denny

Falkirk Council will engage a public artist with a view to justifying their own stated preference to site the War Memorial Plaques back on a wall at Denny Cross. It is contained within their planning application and has been detailed in their artists visual showing Denny Cross on the front of their Newsletter. That is why we are going through the expensive exercise of repositioning the plaques temporarily at Broompark. A costly artifice.

Young Pavels extraordinary Vision of what Denny needs and could support. His enlightened plans put a functional Square exactly where it should be - at the centre of the community!

Oppose the Imposition by Lending Your Support Keep in Touch

We want you to put forward your views and promise to take them onboard! Call: 01324 506127 Contact:brian.mccabe@falkirk.gov.uk Click: www.facebook.com/pages/TheRegeneration-of-Denny-Town Visit: Town House, 1.00pm; first Wed. in month. Denny & Dunipace is being discriminated against by an uncaring, unsympathetic council, intent on foisting their own flawed plans on an unwilling community. The time has now arrived to overturn the years of neglect and disrespect shown by Falkirk Council to our town. Write to Craig Martin, Leader of Falkirk Council to demand that he and his administration listen to the wishes of Denny & Dunipace residents and give us the town centre we deserve. Contact: craig.martin@falkirk.gov.uk Call: 01324 506278

Produced by Concerned Residents of Denny & Dunipace Printed by Blue Nile Design