HOME REPORT
Springhall must not be left behind in South Lanarkshire Council’s programme of regeneration, a Rutherglen councillor has said.
Robert Brown says that there are pockets of housing in the scheme and other areas which are calling out for investment and refurbishment.
He spoke out as South Lanarkshire Council agreed its 2017-2022 housing strategy which included plans for 1,000 new houses and mass regeneration of areas such as East Whitlawburn.
Councillor Brown said he recognised work was going in Spittal and Quarryknowe, but said that the pace of repairs must be sped up.
“Areas like Springhall have major environmental problems with things like back courts, close mouths, slabbing, bin shelters and lock ups as well as some structural issues like roof or balcony problems,” he said.
“Throughout areas like Fernhill, Blairbeth, Spittal and Cathkin, there are pockets of older houses – tenements particularly but also other house types – which need investment.
“The outside appearance of the houses looks tired with old roughcasting, longterm lack of painting of closes, railings and panels and so forth.
“The council’s plans for planned maintenance on things like painting and gutter repairs seem to have slipped badly.
“My view is that this is about people’s homes and that tenants are entitled to expect the council to keep them in a good quality condition.
“We know the pressure for building new houses and that is important – but it is no use if the older houses are not attended to.”
However, Daniel Lowe, director of housing at the council, said that the local authority had invested £500million in improving housing stock since 2004.
He added: “This investment has been made across the full range of the housing stock and has included kitchens and bathroom upgrades, external fabric and roofing works as well as a number of energy efficiency measures such as heating and