Tom Harris, Scottish Labour
Tom Harris has called for action to prevent a Castlemilk street becoming a death trap.
The Scottish Labour candidate was responding to a plea for help from local residents who fear that pedestrians and motorists will be at risk unless Glasgow City Council intervene.
Cavin Drive is too narrow and must become a one- way street, according to locals who have warned the roads department that a collision is inevitable unless action is taken.
John Watson approached Tom when the candidate was speaking to voters outside Castlemilk shopping centre a few weeks ago.
Tom said: “John and his wife were clearly concerned that as things stand in Cavin Drive, motorists are risking a collision every time they turn the corner. John invited me to see for myself and it’s clear his fears are well-founded. Local residents have nowhere else to park, but that means that when cars are negotiating the bend in opposite directions, there’s very little room for manoeuvre.
“Nearby St Bart’s Primary makes things worse, because when parents are picking up or dropping off their children, it adds to the congestion and increases the risk of collision.
“John wants Cavin Drive to become one-way, and as far as I can see, that’s probably the safest option. I’ve written to the roads department to ask them to treat this road as a priority. Obviously, nothing could be done without consulting every local resident first, and I hope such a consultation would give them the chance to suggest alternatives, or perhaps to throw their weight behind Mr Watson’s suggestion.”
But a Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “There are no proposals at this time to introduce a one way system along Cavin Drive.
“The reasons being that it can have the undesirable effect of increasing vehicle speeds, as drivers know they will not be opposed to oncoming traffic. This could detrimental to road safety particularly along this road which comprises two straight sections of carriageway with a 90 degree bend.”