Archaeologists fear artefacts lie at site

Experts recommend probe before building starts

Items of archaeological significance could be lying in fields by the Clyde earmarked for a large Bothwell housing development.

West of Scotland Archaeology Service has recommended that any planning consent granted to Miller Homes at the Bothwellbank site should include a condition that no development takes place until a programme of archaeological works has been implemented. Miller Homes propose building 105 houses on the 26-acre site at the end of Clyde Avenue.

South Lanarkshire planners considered it worthwhile consulting the service, who are not a statutory consultee, on this occasion.

WSAS pointed out that any sub-surface deposits in the area would not survive development of the area for housing.

Its submission to planners states: “While no sites have been identified from within the boundaries of the area affected by the application, the development site lies in an area of some sensitivity for archaeology.

“This is based on the proximity to a known medieval focus of activity (Bothwell Burgh) and the location of the proposals between it and Bothwell Castle.

“The...map of 1755 may also show the location of old mill buildings at the north end of the application area.

“The ground proposed for development under the application comprises a large area of green fields that to not appear to have been disturbed by recent activity, beyond that resulting from practices associated with agricultural cultivation.’

The report stated there is no reason to suppose there had never been any human activity within the fields since prehistory. It added that it is possible material may survive in the form of subsurface deposits.

“Any such remains that survive would be destroyed by the proposed development and as a result a potential archaeological issue is raised by the proposals that would be best dealt with by placing conditions on any consent to be issued,” said the report.

Residents in the Clyde Avenue area of the village have expressed concern that the area’s roads will not be able to cope with an increase in traffic caused by the housing development.

However, Miller Homes said they had monitored traffic flow and carried out an ‘in-depth’ transport assessment and insisted ‘there will be no transport-related issues.’

As of yesterday (Wednesday) 33 letters objecting to Miller Homes’s plans had been lodged with planners.