NIMBY

Church of Scotland plans to set up a four-bedroom halfway house for troubled youths are under attack by residents of the village of Torrance in East Dunbartonshire.

The church currently operates Ballikinrain school in Balfron, Stirlingshire, which houses troubled boys aged eight to 14, but has nowhere to put older youths. The house planned for Torrance would be a four-bedroom house for three teenagers and a staff member.

No planning application has yet been lodged for the site on Rosehill Road, currently home to unused council-owned lock-up garages. A Church of Scotland spokesman said no final decision has been made over the Torrance proposal and that the views of the community will be listened to.

Around 100 locals packed a meeting in Torrance this week to voice their opposition, the third meeting the community has held over the plan. Their view was quite clearly "not in my back yard" !

they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

Mark ch10 v14-16