The decision to grant permission to create a lorry park at the former Stena Line site at East Pier in Stranraer has been branded "disgraceful" by local constituency MSP Finlay Carson.
He insisted: “This flies in the face of what local people have quite clearly tasked the council to deliver for Stranraer”
The Galloway and West Dumfries MSP questioned the decision by some Dumfries and Galloway Councillors to allow haulage giant Manfreight to turn the site into a lorry park – albeit for just three years.
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP said: “This decision by some councillors to allow the East Pier to become a lorry park is disgraceful.
“To say it will bring jobs and boost the local economy that is without question. But this location is totally inappropriate given the town’s ambition to redevelop the waterfront. It will do nothing to revive the town’s fortunes.
“I don’t believe there will be many who want to see HGV’s back in the centre of Stranraer?
He added: "Just when things were beginning to look brighter for the town after years of neglect and under-investment some councillors think a lorry park is the way ahead. I simply cannot fathom the reasoning behind this.”
“I will be looking into how this decision was taken and what potential there is for it to be challenged. The people of Stranraer deserve better.”
