Repairs underway at EK neighbourhood car park

Mar 30 2011 by Andrea O'Neill, East Kilbride News

REPAIRS to St Leonards Square car park are now well underway following the hard graft and dogged determination of the area’s community council.

Chairman Graeme Macklin announced at the watchdog’s monthly meeting last Wednesday (March 23) that Somerfield owners, The Co-operative, had confirmed repair of the potholes – which have peppered the car park for well over a year – would begin this week.

With the support of St Leonards Community Council, the chairman spearheaded a tireless campaign to restore the dangerous car park for the safety and wellbeing of local pedestrians and motorists.

He told the News: “I’m not taking anything away from anyone who has been working on this, however within six weeks we have answers.

“It has worked wonders as we will now be getting some work done to sort out the potholes that have ravaged the place for the last two years.

“The number of very serious injuries sustained have been mounting up, and we have had enough of the ‘don’t know when it will be done’ replies from South Lanarkshire Council.

Mr Macklin added: “It’s just another reason why the residents of St Leonards should take the time to look in on their community councillors at work.

“People power strikes again.”

As the repairs are only sectional works, the group voiced concerns over the restoration of the car park’s entry and exit area’s.

Another burning issue on the agenda was safety fears over the return of boy racers on Strathaven Road.

Area councillor Jim Wardhaugh and a number of members have witnessed a large number of motorists in high powered vehicles flouting the 40mph speed limit during late-night street races.

Councillor Wardhaugh said: “Some of the speeds they’re topping are horrendous – it’s real hell for leather.

“They start at Birniehill roundabout and race right along Strathaven Road. You can hear them going right into Calderglen Country Park too.”

He requested that attending community police officers PC John O’Brien and PC Christopher Driscoll look into the issue.

PC Driscoll said that an ongoing police operation at Peel Park – following reports of street racing in the area – could have moved the culprits on.

The community officers assured the group that extra attention would be given to the problem in St Leonards.

Members also slammed the council’s new fees on garden care, branding them “extortionate”.

Councillor Wardhaugh advised people not to take part in the scheme, and instead to acquire help from relatives or advertise for a freelance gardener.

The area’s monthly crime report revealed there were 21 crimes in the area, with an overall detection rate of 43 per cent.

There were two disorders, three traffic offences, two simple assaults, three vandalisms, eight crimes of dishonesty or theft and three drug offences.

The next St Leonards community council meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 27 in Blacklaw Community Hall at 7.30pm.