A long-serving Bathgate councillor known for his robust defence against greenbelt housing developments is to lead West Lothian’s main planning committee.
Labour’s Harry Cartmill returned to the council’s Development Management Committee this week.
And he and beat fellow Bathgate veteran and SNP councillor Willie Boyle in a vote at a meeting of the full council on Tuesday to take chair the
The DMC meets monthly to hear the bulk of planning applications referred to council for debate. He will replace Broxburn councillor Labour’s, Tony Boyle who is stepping back from the chair, but will remain on the committee.
Councillor Cartmill has already served on the DMC and told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he was “honoured” to assume chair of the committee.
He said:” I’m honoured to be elected at today’s meeting of West Lothian to the position of chair of the Development Management Committee.
“Having previously served as DM committee member from 2012 – 2020 I pledge to bring commitment, understanding and professionalism to this very important role.”
Long serving SNP member of the DMC, Willie Boyle accepted his party’s nomination for the chair of committee but lost out in a vote at the meeting.
Councillor Cartmill has been notable in his opposition to major housing developments in Bathgate including the protracted campaign to stop almost 200 homes being built at Sibbald’s Brae, including supporting a campaign to protect green space around the town.
More recently he led objections to plans to develop the land around the site of Bathgate’s former war memorial on a hillside above the town.
Councillor Tony Boyle assumed the chair of DMC following the sudden death of Independent councillor Stuart Borrowman in May last year.
By Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter
