Stewartfield housing fears

Opponents to the proposed dualling of Stewartfield Way have raised concerns that it would lead to more housing developments if approved.

South Lanarkshire Council have said there are no developments directly attached to the proposals.

And this week their head of roads and transportation, Gordon Mackay, said there was no danger of that happening if approved.

He told the News:“There are no proposals to release further land for housing on the north side of Stewartfield Way regardless of whether or not the scheme proceeds as originally consulted upon.”

However, a number of critics have said there would be‘land-grabs by housing developers’resulting in the further loss of the greenbelt.

Green campaigner Kirsten Robb told the News:“The main reason behind dualling the Stewartfield Way is economic development – to increase road capacity to accommodate further developments can happen along its corridor.

“So I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a land grab by developers along the road and further greenbelt is lost.”

Tory MSP Graham Simpson, a vocal critic of the plans, said he hoped the council would make a“sensible decision” and“scrap the scheme and spend the money in a more sustainable way”.

He added:“Clearly if a project like this went ahead then the developers would be circling, if they aren’t already.

“There is a risk that they could use it as a reason to try to expand the town into the greenbelt and that would be to no one’s benefit.”

Meanwhile, Linda Fabiani MSP reiterated her call for City Deal projects “to be tested in light of the climate emergency”and that Stewartfield Way “simply doesn’t fit the bill”.