East Kilbride

East Kilbride is located on high ground, about 15km (9 miles) south of Glasgow , and 8km (5 miles) west of Hamilton . East Kilbride sits on the Rotten Calder river.

The earliest evidence of habitation in the area dates back to ancient graves found near the Kype Water to the south of the district. Roman coins and footwear have also been found in the area.

East Kilbride takes its name from an Irish saint, St Bride (or Brigit) who founded a monastery for nuns and monks in Kildare , Ireland in the 6th Century . Irish monks introduced her cult to Scotland. ''Kil'' means church or burial place.

East Kilbride emerged from a small village of around 900 inhabitants to become a Large Burgh in 1930 , and then a busy New Town (the first in Scotland, designated in 1947 ) with a population of over 81,000 (estimate in 2006).

Twinned with the city of Ballerup in Denmark , the town lost out to Stirling in 2002 to be granted city status for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and prior to that it lost out to Inverness in 2000 as the Millennium city.

The town is occupied by a large shopping centre, comprising 6 separate shopping departments, but known by local residents as "The Town Centre". This holds the title of largest indoor Shopping Centre in Scotland and 10th largest in Europe.
The six malls are The Plaza (development started in 1972), Princess Mall (1984), Olympia (1988), Southgate (1989), Princes Square (1997) and Centre West (2003). The shopping centre has come under recent criticism for losing major retail chains in light of rising rental prices. This coupled with the Centre West expansion and decreasing shopper numbers has allowed swathes of properties within the centre to remain closed for months at a time, notably on the first floor of Centre West and the Plaza

A £400m redevelopment of East Kilbride town centre has been given the go-ahead by South Lanarkshire Council.
The plan would demolish some existing buildings to create a new civic centre, a state-of-the-art health centre, a library and shopping facilities.

It would also see a "landmark" arts and culture complex with a 1,000-seat theatre, a 500-seat conference centre, a museum and a new town square.

Parking spaces in the town centre would increase from 3,000 to 8,700 spaces.The first stage of the plan could start later this year, with completion of the major elements in 2012/2013. It is hoped the project - the various phases of which will require full planning permission - will create up to 3,000 temporary jobs over the 10-year construction programme and 2,000 permanent jobs.

The new civic and health facilities would be created at the site currently occupied by Plaza Tower, which would be demolished, with the theatre and arts facilities being created at the adjoining Olympia Centre.

The current civic centre and the adjoining Hunter Health Centre would be demolished to make way for the first phase of development, which would include a major food retail store.

Former/current residents include musicians Roddy Frame (Aztec Camera), the Reid brothers (The Jesus and Mary Chain), Alex McGhie (Fake Gods), footballer Ally McCoist, television presenter Lorraine Kelly and actor John Hannah.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRICT

East Kilbride District 1975-96

From )

EAST KILBRIDE CONSTITUENCIES

There is an East Kilbride Constituency Of The Scottish Parliament . Since the opening of the Scottish Parliament , the constituency has been represented by Andy Kerr MSP ( Labour ).

East Kilbride was formerly a constituency of the UK Parliament . In 2005 it was replaced by the constituency of East Kilbride, Strathaven And Lesmahagow . The seat has been held since 1987 by Adam Ingram .

AREAS OF EAST KILBRIDE