Uddingston footpaths to reopen until Porterswell contractors return in April

Nov 24 2011 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

TWO footpaths in Uddingston which have been out of commission while work takes place at the Porterswell site are to be reinstated in the coming weeks.

The path between Old Glasgow Road and Cobblerigg and pavement at Old Glasgow Road by Porterswell have been closed while the redirection of a gas main takes place.

The work on the main is necessary for Uddingston Grammar’s new pitches at Porterswell which were expected to be completed in August this year, but are now scheduled for completion in August 2012.

Closure of the paths has caused inconvenience for villagers, and this was set to continue as contractors left the site during the winter months.

However, village councillor Jim McGuigan has intervened and now the paths are set to reopen until work on Porterswell restarts in April.

Mr McGuigan explained: “The pitches should have been ready for the community in August 2011, but because of a problem concerning the realignment or the redirection of the gas main, this just wasn’t possible.

“I want the council to reinstate the paths before the contractors come back next April.

“I have asked them to put them back into usage, especially over winter. It’s important we have that access.

“In some cases elderly people in that area are housebound.

“They are having to rely on relatives to take them to do the shopping or to pay for taxis.”

Mr McGuigan went on: “I have been dealing with the schools’ modernisation team who have kept me informed.

“They have been very helpful in reaching a satisfactory situation.”

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: “The construction of the pitches at Porterswell has been delayed due to the need to replace an underground gas pipe at the site entrance on Glasgow Road.

“Scottish Gas Networks approved the works on the replacement gas pipe which was completed in May 2011.

“Subsequently, works to form the pitches was undertaken until the end of the grass growing season.

“The final phase of the works will be carried out in the spring of 2012.

“To minimise disruption to local residents, the original footpath will be reinstated until works recommence in the spring.”

RESIDENTS living near Uddingston Grammar were furious to discover in 2009 that the developer would no longer be paying for four grass pitches in the Porterswell area.

South Lanarkshire took on responsibility for providing the pitches at a cost estimated to be around £150,000 to £200,000.

However, some locals thought that an unrealistic figure and that £400,000 would be closer to the mark.

The re-examination of developer commitments – which included the Porterswell pitches – followed the lodging of a compensation claim by the developer for £13.7million “in respect of events which were outwith the contract which had been signed by South Lanarkshire Council and their partners”.