Station work
Council say they will expand Newton provision
Newton train station could be in line for a “significant expansion” to its parking facilities within the next year after angry residents hit out at the chaotic current state of the area.
The station is a park and ride but the number of new homes in the area have meant far more people commuting.
Newton train station could be in line for a “significant expansion” to its parking facilities within the next year after angry residents hit out at the chaotic facility.
The station is a park and ride but the number of new homes in the area has meant far more people are now commuting into Glasgow from Newton.
That has led some residents to brand the situation a nightmare, with no parking available there by around 9am each morning.
One commuter, Jonas Diatta, from Westburn, said: “There are two car parking spaces at Newton, an initial one and now an overflow but services are being stretched now and by 9am there are no parking spaces left for anyone.
“They’ve taken away a few bays to be left for electric cars, so what’s been happening is they’ve decreased the bays while not getting caught up in the development of the area as a whole, and that there are now a lot more people using it.
“There are a lot of us being frustrated and I know a lot of people who are now taking their cars to work instead of using the train.”
South Lanarkshire Council have now stated they hope to expand the station’s parking further,
Gordon Mackay, South Lanarkshire Council head of roads and transportation, said: “The council is aware of the parking pressures at Newton as well as other stations in South Lanarkshire and we have been successful in expanding the park and ride provision throughout the area.
“At Newton additional parking was identified by the developer of the Community Growth Housing Area that would allow commuters a parking alternative.
“In addition the council is taking forward a City Deal project to significantly increase the park and ride provision. We are currently considering design options and would hope significant expansion of the current facilities can be delivered within the next year.”
Jonas also claimed that commuters are getting fed up of being fined for parking elsewhere in the car park.
He said: “There are people parking still within the car park but not in the official bays.
“It says it’s prohibited, but there is nothing up to say that you will be fined and since July or so the council are turning up during the day and putting leaflets on the cars.
“At least they should have given us some warning that they’d be fining people straight away over it.
Gordon Mackay replied: “A Traffic Regulation Order for the Newton park and ride facility was put in place in 2008 and includes restrictions on parking out with marked bays.
“It is clearly signed that parking outwith marked bays is prohibited. There is no requirement to sign that a penalty will be incurred for doing so. This is the case through the council area”.