£44 million upgrade for Clydesdale road

May 1 2008 By Alastair McNeill

CLYDESDALE’S roads are to benefit from a multi-million pounds investment programme.

South Lanarkshire Council are to spend £44.10 million on resurfacing work in the area over the next eight years.

The cash injection was approved yesterday (Wednesday) at a meeting of the authority’s executive committee.

It is part of a £126m roads improvement programme set for all of South Lanarkshire up to 2016.

Officials have pointed out that an extended period of “substantially increased investment” is necessary if the road and pavement network is to be brought up to an acceptable standard.

SNP opponents of the Labour administration this week blamed the policies of the previous Scottish Executive for the poor condition of the area’s roads.

The party’s enterprise resources spokesman Ian Gray, pointed out there was a £150m “backlog” of roads maintenance work across South Lanarkshire.

Work amounting to £2.1m is expected to be carried out on 12 Clydesdale roads before the end of this year.

These include the A70 (Lang Whang to Redford Bridge), A72 (Threepwood, Hazelbank and Crossford), the B7086 Kirkmuirhill to Boghead and the A721 Thomson Street, Carluke, to Kilncadzow.

Other projects for the year 2008-2009 are the A73 (Clydesdale Farm), A702 (Glenocher) and B7978 (Auldton Heights). Finance is to come from several sources.

These include the sale of council commercial property assets and additional council borrowing.

Council leader Eddie McAvoy said: “We appreciate our roads network across urban and rural areas needs investment to bring it up to modern standards.

“This huge injection of new funds will surely achieve this objective.

“I am particularly pleased that we can fulfil our objective of increased investment in rural areas across South Lanarkshire.

“Already, we have set up an all-party rural task force within the council to address country issues.

“If approved, our new proposals will see significant additional investment in rural road improvements and new accommodation for businesses there.”

The Conservative group, who prop up the controlling Labour administration, this week claimed “some credit” for the programme.

“We have been working flat out behind the scenes to ensure that a package such as the one announced this week would be drawn up, and we are delighted our efforts have paid off,” said Councillor Graham Simpson.

“The people of South Lanarkshire can now finally look forward to roads which are fit for vehicles other than lunar buggies.”

Councillor Ian Gray, who represents Clydesdale West, said: “The £126m figure goes a long way to tackle the roads situation.

“However, at least 52 per cent of South Lanarkshire’s roads are currently in an unacceptable condition.”

He added: “This is going to be an on-going problem which will require more funds once the current programme ends.”