Mixed views on relief road
Residents give their opinions on proposal
There was a mixed response to the Cathkin Relief Road plans at the public consultation last week.
Many people said they were opposed outright to the plan, but some said they couldn’t make their mind up, while others thought it would benefit parts of the area.
Patrick Shields ( 62) from Hazelwood Gardens described it as a “vanity project,” saying: “People will use this road, there is no question of that, but I want to know who is benefiting from it. It will be those living on Blairbeth Road
“It’s annoying they have found this £21m for a vanity project.
“My property is going to fall in value because someone wants cars away from Blairbeth Road and their property prices will rise.”
However, Douglas Easton from Crawfurd Road felt Blairbeth Road needs a break: “The main problem is on Blairbeth Road during the peak traffic hours, particularly with the school there.
“It would certainly take pressure off Blairbeth Road.”
Also in favour of the plan was 85- year- old John Dunn from Highfield Avenue.
He said: “When I was buying my house 52-years-ago the sales manager said to me ‘it’s only fair I tell you there will be an extension to the by-pass running all along that streets and it should be built in two years. That was 52 years ago.
“I’m quite happy to see it go ahead.”
Michael Mooney (77) of Manor way, couldn’t decide: “I think it will come to be.
“Some people will not like it because it is affecting them, but you’ve got to build a road somewhere. It’s dreadful down on Blairbeth Road. “I’m not in favour or against.” However, many people were angry at the plan and felt their fears had not been addressed at the event. Liz McIntosh from Upper Bourtree Drive said: “There are a lot of concerns.
“I use that path as a short cut to get back from work at night but now I’ll have to walk all the way around, into Blairbeth.”
The loss of greenspace concerned Dawn Devlin (46) of Larchfield Drive: “The majority of our street is opposing this.
“It’s not even just the impact of the traffic I’m worried about, there is an abundance of wildlife in there.
“There are no green spaces left and you’ll never alleviate problems with traffic.
“I am an outdoor type person and use that area to walk my dogs. When I bought the house 14 years ago I wasn’t told about this road, it was my neighbour who mentioned it to me.
“There simply isn’t enough space, especially for the kids in Fernhill.”
Brian Heaney ( 77) of Ceder Gardens added: “It’s a nightmare.
“It will cause noise pollution. They are also talking about putting barriers up at the junction with Fernhill Road like on the M74, but they will be a target for graffiti.
“It’s also taking away green belt, there are many aspects that are going to be affected.
“When I moved in to Ceder the lady who sold us the house said there was going to be a road. That was 40 years ago. My hope is this is not going to go through.”