Councillor’s angerover invite

A Hamilton councillor claims he was snubbed over the latest town centre roundtable meeting.

Davie Mclachlan, Labour councillor for Hamilton North and East, says he “was not given proper notice” of the meeting.

However, a spokesperson for SNP MP Angela Crawley said there was no snub and that it was important to liaise with Labour councillors.

Councillor Mclachlan said: “it is important that as politicians we all work together to secure the best for Hamilton town centre going forward.

“Therefore, it is disappointing in the extreme that I was not given proper notice to attend a consultation and discussion meeting in Hamilton on July 8, organised by Angela Crawley MP and Christina Mckelvie MSP.

“The invitation was composed on House of Commons notepaper dated June 28, posted on (Wednesday) July 6 and arrived at South Lanarkshire Council headquarters on (Thursday) July 7.

“As I was not in the council offices on Thursday, I opened and read the invitation on Friday afternoon – when the meeting was due to finish.

“I would like to assure all stakeholders and business representatives that, if given proper notice, as elected member for Hamilton North and East, I would have attended the meeting to hear and share views around the table.

“I have asked Angela Crawley for details of how others were invited to the meeting and requested in future that I am emailed invitations in order that I have a least half a chance of being able to put the date in my diary.

“It is vitally important that all of us who are working for Hamilton town centre get round the table and I look forward to participating fully at any future meetings.”

A spokesman for Angela Crawley dismissed the claim of a deliberate snub. He said: “it’s absolutely not the case that Councillor Mclachlan’s invitation was posted late.

“The councillor is part of the process and will be included in future discussions.

“We want to engage with everyone who has the town centre’s future at heart and it’s important we liaise with Labour members of the council to get their viewpoint.”