I NOTE the hubristic and cynical response by Councillor Peter Johnston to my letter in the Herald and Post concerning the absence of meaningful community consultation in the council's decision to locate a hostel for homeless single young adult males in Race Road, Bathgate.
Cllr Johnston makes the claim that the council has been at pains to "inform the community what is
going on".
In reality, WLC and Bethany have gone to 'pains' to ensure that no consultation whatsoever involving the community took place until the deal was done.
Cllr Johnston also claims to understand the concerns of the community. If this is so, why did he vote down local councillor Jim Walker's proposal that no decision to sell the Race Road property be taken before fully consulting the community?
As for Cllr Johnston's use of the term 'vulnerable youngsters', he seems to have overlooked our experience of 20-odd years of antisocial behaviour which went on around the old YPC.
In fact, our experience of the challenging behaviour presented from time to time by the residents of the YPC is given as a reason why 24 Race Road is the ideal site for Bethany's hostel.
As for Cllr Johnston's claim that this four-bedded hostel is about addressing the shortage of affordable housing, does he seriously expect us to believe that a 12-week placement to assist four young adult single men to overcome the 'issues' that present as barriers to them living independently in the community is a response to a shortage of housing?
As for Cllr Johnston's hope that I give the hostel a chance, I can only assume that this is his idea of a joke as he and his executive committee colleagues have ensured I have no choice in the matter.
I again challenge Cllr Johnston to get down from his perch in the (West Lothian) Civic Centre and call a public meeting and listen to the concerns of the Race Road and area residents first-hand.
Fred Smart, Race Road, Bathgate.
