Roundabout plan wins seal of approval

Watchdogs’objection over-ruled

The development of East Kilbride Community Growth Area (CGA) – which is set to see hundreds of new homes as well a new primary school and retail facilities – took a step forward yesterday.

An application for a four-arm roundabout off Eaglesham Road in Jackton went before members of South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee and was given the goahead.

The application site lies immediately north of Eaglesham Road and south of the village of Jackton.

Plans submitted by BMJ Property Limited is part of the infrastructure needed to support 400 new homes which have previously been granted permission as part of the council’s masterplan for the growth of the Jackton area.

It is designed to accommodate all vehicle traffic for this part of the community growth area, therefore, removing the requirement for the secondary vehicle access point.

However, there were objections to the roundabout from Jackton and Thorntonhall Community Council, who believe the roundabout will be situated in the wrong location.

The community watchdog state in the report to councillors: “An offset roundabout of the type proposed is an inappropriate junction between a major and a minor road.

“Roundabouts have been demonstrated to be environmentally unsound due to the fuel wasted by vehicles needlessly braking and accelerating.

“The proposed position of the roundabout would not give sufficient room for a suitably sized central core.

“And Eaglesham Road would have four junctions in the space of halfa-mile.”

There were also concerns raised over the impact of flora and fauna and safety due to its proximity to other roundabouts and junctions.

But council officers stated in their conclusions that the roundabout is designed to support the delivery of part of the East Kilbride CGA, which is “a development priority for the council” and that it would have no adverse impact on amenity or public safety in the area.