LOCAL Conservatives slammed SNP, Labour and Independent councillors for failing to fully consider Bothwell residents’ concerns about a huge housing development.
The Miller Homes’ application to build 105 properties at Bothwellbank prompted strong objection from the community.
While Conservative councillors were not opposed to the development in principal, they made clear the council should take time to properly consider the residents’ concerns, particularly those relating to access roads for the new properties.
People living in the vicinity fear the 26-acre scheme will put major pressure on Clyde Avenue, Silverwells Crescent and Blantyre Mill Road.
The application went before South Lanarkshire Council’s Planning Committee on Tuesday (10 October), with Conservative councillors calling for a decision to be delayed pending assessment by the authority’s roads department.
The Tories urged the committee to further consider the concerns of residents, pointing out that 33 members of the community had taken the time to write objection letters and no-one had written in support of it.
An objection letter had also been received from Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell, while the SNP’s Richard Lyle MSP spoke against the development but did not submit an official objection.
Bothwell and Uddingston’s Conservative councillor, Kenny McCreary, put forward a motion to send the application for further review. Cllr Richard Nelson seconded the motion, but only the Conservative members gave their support.
It was defeated as all SNP, Labour and Independent councillors teamed-up to grant permission, without waiting for further consideration of the community’s concerns.
Cllr McCreary said: “It’s incredibly disappointing that Labour, the SNP and independents all ignored the legitimate concerns of our community.
“There is a shortage of affordable homes and we are absolutely committed to developing the housing our communities need, but it will do far more harm than good to cram 105 extra properties without knowing the roads can cope.
“People who live in this area know the infrastructure is already struggling. They are understandably worried a development on such a large scale will gridlock traffic and overload local services.
“Bothwell residents face difficulty getting GP appointments when they need them and at certain times our roads are at a standstill.
“I suspect this development will put significant strain on Bothwell’s roads and services in the years ahead, so it’s a real shame that the Conservative councillors were alone in seeking to ensure residents’ concerns got the consideration they deserve.
“People here will long remember that this decision was rushed through by an SNP, Labour and independent alliance that was not prepared to ask the council’s roads officers to look into how residents’ fears could be addressed.”