Finding out what your councillors really think of proposals
Proposals to dual Stewartfield Way as part of a City Deal have divided opinion for years.
The plans were first mooted over two decades years ago and it took until 2017 to get those to the table.
Following a delay at that time, we find ourselves in 2020 awaiting the outcome of a public consultation that started in November, and no clearer as to whether the plans will get the go-ahead.
Work to complete the £62m project is expected to take three-years and South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) claim it could be worth £570m to the area.
The News has tried to gain clarity over what that £570m will look like and how it will benefit the people of the greater East Kilbride area.
SLC, financial experts KPMG - who carried out the research behind the figure – and the City Deal team have all pointed to each other to answer that question, also referring to a 200+ page document for clarity.
But there is nothing clear in that document as to what the supposed £570m worth of the project will look like for workers, families, or communities.
We told you last month – despite protestations from SLC – how the City Deal cabinet had red-flagged the Stewartfield Way project in October, saying it was “unachievable” because of “major issues”.
These proposals have now been moved to an ‘amber’ warning, which states the proposals still have “significant issues” attached.
The results of the well-attended public consultation process that took place in November are expected this spring.
So, with the decision over the dualling plans just around the corner, the EK News turned to our elected members to ask for their take on the proposals.
Five elected members failed to get back to us before we went to print, with three getting back to us but choosing not to comment.
East Kilbride Central North councillor, Joe Fagan, called the deal “a once in a lifetime opportunity” to invest in a mix of transport infrastructure improvements.
He told the News: “Upgrading Stewartfield Way will address the specific transport capacity issues all parties identified and agreed to act on when the City Deal was approved.
“Doing nothing is not an option. That will just see congestion mount and the town lose out on multi-million pound investment.
“Upgrading the road, however, if we do it right, will get traffic moving on Stewartfield Way in the years to come and alleviate congestion at the Whirlies, at Kingsgate and, most importantly for me, on West Mains Road – a road with two primary schools on it.
“The development to the north of the carriageway should never become a trojan horse for development on the green belt to the north of Stewartfield. That isn’t on the table and I don’t think it should be on the table.
“Whether for the upgrade or against it, there is nothing to be gained from dithering and delay. It really is make your mind up time for the SNP Council.
“The longer we wait, the more the cost of the project will mount and the worse the congestion will get. If there is no alternative then East Kilbride could lose out on millions and congestion will just get worse and worse.”
His Labour stablemate, East Kilbride Central South councillor, Gerry Convery, said the plans had been a “long term priority” for SLC for over 20 years.
He added: “I agreed with it then and still agree with it now.
“I believe it will make for better travelling through East Kilbride. I welcome pressure for better public transport links for rail and bus services.
“Environmental issues should always be a corner stone in our thinking when developing policy.
“Politics are about people and their wellbeing, that’s how I have lived my political life. Policy in any strategic plans must always be to the benefit of the wider good.”
Conservative councillor for East Kilbride West, Ian Harrow, said the “overwhelming view” from campaigning is that “residents were against this proposal”.
He added: “I do not welcome the proposals for several reasons.
“There are too many entries/exits at the Kingsgate Retail Park and dualling Stewartfield Way will bring traffic to this spot more quickly.
“With the focus on the environment, why is the emphasis on bringing more traffic through this residential part of the town.
“I am aware traffic has to link from the orbital road to the expressway to take goods south, but taking it through an area that is overwhelmingly residential and has been since its inception is not the answer.
“Society has moved on and we cannot keep building new roads to “cure” traffic problems. New roads create new traffic.
How does building this unnecessary road keep in tune with the ‘climate change emergency’ declared by the Scottish Government?
“Surely the money could be better spent in providing better transport links between Stewartfield and the bus station in the town centre and the two train stations we have.
“With regard to greenbelt, new transport links tend to generate new development so I do think new housing will be a result which will further reduce the greenbelt areas around our town.
“We have to make it more attractive to people to use public transport to wean them off their cars, not just build more roads which encourages more car travel and pollution.”
Labour councillor, Monique McAdams, East Kilbride West, called the proposals “complex”.
She told the News how the public consultation showed her the potential capacity of Stewartfield Road to be 24,000 cars, with it currently hitting 22,500.
Councillor McAdams said: “It is scheduled to come to a standstill if nothing is changed.
“We already know Stewartfield Way is almost at capacity with cars idling and nose to tail traffic and the extent of the air pollution is reaching chronic proportions.
“Therefore, a major worry from an environmentally damaging perspective is the amount of carbon monoxide being created through cars idling in traffic just now as it will only get worse if no changes are made.
“One of the key indicators for how this project moves forward is how it aligns with the green guide because this will let SLC know which is more detrimental to the environment, not doing the dualling or doing it.
“I completely understand there will be concern about the project, but from an environmental perspective, I hope we can work through those concerns as the ultimate aim is by putting in this infrastructure SLC is looking to help the environment not hinder it.
“Upgrading Stewartfield Way will bring investment to the town, create jobs and opportunities and stop us just being a commuter town.”
Independent councillor, David Watson, has been a long term opponent of the proposals, calling them out of date and that take “no cognisance of the environmental issues highlighted locally, nationally and internationally”.
He added: “Even by SLC’s own figures there will be minimum journey time improvements, particularly without the flyover. The Kingsgate end of the road will become a big bottleneck.
“I have particular concerns for the environment around the Heritage Park and nature reserve. There will also be an issue with the quality of air in the area.
“There are numerous reports highlighting the health issues by reduced quality of air from projects like this.
“The estimated £570m value of the project to the area has not been made clear to me and I don’t believe it is easy for members of the public to see how this money will benefit them.
“This proposal will destroy greenbelt and potentially open up the area for further development, destroying more of the countryside between East Kilbride and Glasgow.”