New Lanark 'snub' by SNP
NEW Lanark World Heritage Site has not been included in the destinations which school children will visit as part of a newly announced £180,000 Scottish Government funding package.
And that news has dismayed Lanark and Hamilton East Labour MP Jim Hood.
Thousands of school pupils will get to visit Bannockburn, Culloden and Robert Burns' birthplace after extra cash was allocated to conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland.
But Jim believes the SNP has missed the boat.
He said: "The SNP is once again using taxpayers' money to fund what is tantamount to state-sponsored propaganda.
"The party rightly stands accused of abusing its position as the
governing party.
"By picking sites with particular resonance in the struggle for
independence, the SNP hopes to con voters by peddling romantic notions of a nation downtrodden.
"Unfortunately, the SNP doesn't understand the real history of Scotland. I am concerned that other vital sites like Robert Owens's New Lanark have been omitted."
Mr Hood was commenting on funding recently announced by Schools Minister Keith Brown, who has helped ensure history is brought to life for visitors by launching a new educational film about the Battle of Bannockburn.
However, a Scottish Government spokesman responded saying: "No-one with an interest in delivering the best experiences and outcomes for Scottish pupils could fail to support an initiative which allows pupils to participate in active learning about their country's history.
"It is especially disappointing to have this opportunity for young learners turned into a political attack, especially during Scotland's year of Homecoming."
For more information on this story, pick up a copy of this week's Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.
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Weather for Carluke
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
