West Lothian Council abandons plans to demolish Deans South estate

WEST LOTHIAN Council is set to abandon its plans to demolish and redevelop the Deans South estate

[ClickPress, Thu Aug 11 2005] WEST LOTHIAN Council is set to abandon its plans to demolish and redevelop the Deans South estate, where the 241 houses are said to be nearing the end of their useful lives.

A quarter of the houses on the estate are currently lying empty and boarded up.

The move comes after 69 of the 85 homeowners on the estate rejected the council's offer of £40,000 for their property.

The council say the demolition and redevelopment of Deans South is now not possible, due to the fact the owners' house are located throughout the estate.

In a report due to come to the council's health and care committee on Tuesday, August 16, the council says Queens Counsel have advised that it has no legal or financial responsibility to owners in this matter.

However, the council says it has a direct responsibility to its tenants, with 60 of the 132 tenants now rehoused, leaving their properties empty.


Homeowner Kirsty Clarke blasted the council for releasing the committee papers, detailing the abandonment of the redevelopment plans, before informing residents of the proposal.

"I am disgusted by the way the council have put this out," she said. "Yet again, they have shown contempt for the hard-working people of Deans South who have worked their whole lives to own their own properties.

"They have shown no concern for the health and stress of the people of Deans South."

A council spokesman commented: “ We are giving careful consideration to the difficult situation at the Deans South estate in Livingston. We have carried out detailed consultation with local residents. An update report with recommendations for action has been prepared for the consideration of the council’s health and care committee on Tuesday August 16."

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