utopianl's Qype profile

Yes, the village is stunning. The buildings are fine examples of 'rubble-build'. the setting is magnificent. But there are so many reasons why this is no 'conservation nirvana' - nor heaven to live in.

The Trust is 'managed' by un-elected and unknown, unseen trustees. There are at least three trading entities - one concerning the hotel; another concerning the cafe and exceptionally poor gift shop; and the third concerning the housing.

Yes, some of the houses are rented. But this is an organisation that rejected its role as a 'social landlord' in favour of privatising what was previously known as the New Lanark Housing Association - ironic when you consider the village origins. It is now a private landlord. And a private landlord which ties its tenants in to a costly communal heating system which exists in order to ensure that the fabric of the buildings are not damaged by the possible effects of frost etc. Tenants have no control over their individual heating systems - nor any choice over the tariff they are locked in to. Water is not heated by the system - so this is an additional cost for the tenant to bear.

There are some peculiar choices in village 'furniture' too...from fairy lights in trees and under water to the awful red/white striped traffic barriers.

Volunteer assistance is not encouraged by the Trust. The workforce are non-unionised.

In terms of 'community' the village is split between haves and have-nots - a real microcosm of society... with the 'haves' inhabiting the upper stretch and the have-nots based primarily in the flats and in the lower stretch. There is little mixing. With perhaps only what amounts to a visceral distaste for the former 'village director' uniting most.