Councillor steps in over Strathaven roads frustrations
“I’m constantly coughing, out of breath, having chest infections and it’s getting worse.
“I’m worried after reading about people dying in that hospital.”
Mary O’Hara has lived in the block for a decade and says the bird droppings have been a constant bugbear for residents.
And despite paying factor fees, affected tenants have even had to pay a cleaning company to come in weekly out of their own pocket.
The 53-year-old, who was diagnosed with COPD 10 years ago, said: “It’s always been bad and it seems to have gotten worse recently.
“We’re breathing in all the crap and when you’re washing it you’ve got to take a scraper to the close.
“We’ve had to get someone in to do the close because it’s too much for us.
“I think my COPD has got worse and I think it’s connected to this because when I’m out brushing the front and back you can see it all flying about so you’re trying not to breathe.
“It’s absolutely disgusting out there. We’ve had to put a snib on the door to stop the weans trailing it through the close.”
William Blair, 50, agreed that his COPD symptoms have also been exacerbated since moving to the flats four years ago.
He said: “I’ve been coughing a lot more and had shortness of breath, especially when the poo is dried up and it’s all lifting into the air.
“The council need to do something about the roof so the birds can’t land on it.”
Janet insists South Lanarkshire Council are not listening to their concerns.
She added: “The council are not doing anything about it, they’re not interested.
“A housing officer came out before the summer, took pictures and said they’d get it cleaned up. They’ve never done it.
“The only thing they did this year was put spikes up so the pigeons can’t sit on the roof but they put them up the wrong way so the birds are just sitting in between them.
“I reported it and they said we would need to pay for another cherry picker to come out and sort it.
“You’re paying builders’ fees, factoring fees and your council tax so how are the council not cleaning the close.
“People are now refusing to pay bills because they’re sick and tired of nothing getting done. We’re getting nowhere.”
Head of housing at South Lanarkshire Council Head of housing, Annette Finnan, said the authority had taken steps to try and resolve the problems.
She added: “We previously installed bird point (spikes) to act as a deterrent, but this has not been totally successful.
“Our environmental service has recommended further bird proofing and the removal of the droppings.
“We will consult the other co-owners regarding the work, seeking a majority agreement.” FRASER WILSON
Graeme Campbell says Scottish Water are not carrying out their duties properly in relation to works in Strathaven.
And the Conservative councillor says he is “on the case” to put pressure on the firm and council to get the work done right.
Waterwise have been digging up the town for Scottish Water as part of upgrade works for a nearby housing development.
But, expected to last for 35 days, residents and businesses are already fed up with the havoc caused.
We told you last week how business owners were at the end of their tether with the roadworks, with chairman of the business association, Les Hoggan, telling us they had become a “real bugbear” and causing “a number of issues”.
Now Councillor Campbell has stepped into help.
He said: “I’ve checked with South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) roads – contractors have no right to park in the disabled bays or on double yellow lines.
“In some cases contractors are awarded special permission, but not in this case. They are supposed to man the traffic lights from 7am to 7pm.
“You’re telling me they’re not and I’ve seen for myself they’re not. I’ve complained now several times to SLC roads and have now raised this directly with Scottish Water.”
The first phase of the work was on Townhead Street and was supposed to finish before work on the Common Green started.
However, the works overlapped meaning locals had to navigate roadworks round from the main road through the village, on to the busy and congested Common Green
Residents and business-folk have been taking to social media to complain about the disruption caused.
One local took pictures and posted them on Facebook showing the exit from the park being blocked by work vans on Threestaines Road.
From October 28 to November 17, the works will move further into Common Green and Bridge Street, where traffic will not be permitted to turn left from Common Green into Bridge Street.
It will instead will be diverted towards the A71 Kirk Street via Wellbrae.
The work is also expected to improve the supply to the wider Strathaven community.