Boost for Main St
Regeneration forum launch
Efforts to improve Cambuslang Main Street have taken a step forward as the town’s community council prepares to launch a regeneration forum.
The group, which has already brought greenery to the Main Street with Cambuslang in Bloom, is seeking to establish two groups this autumn - a forum to develop strategy and a working group to implement specific actions.
John Bachtler, treasurer of the community council, said: “Firstly we want to create a forum which brings together elected members, councillors from the local authority, MP and MSP, community groups, residents’ associations, churches, businesses, South Lanarkshire Council officials and others with an interest in regenerating Cambuslang.
“The purpose of the forum would be to agree an overall strategy for the town. We have done a lot of survey work gathering opinion from the community and business sector and that needs translated into a workable strategy.
“Secondly, we need an action group to take forward specific actions.”
Mr Bachtler added: “One of the big challenges going forward is capacity. We need to increase the capacity of the community council in terms of volunteers who have time and the skills to contribute to the regeneration group.”
The community council’s announcement comes weeks after local resident Clare Williamson launched a petition calling on the local authority to commit to improving Cambuslang Main Street in the long-term.
Mr Bachtler welcomed her petition, signed by more than 3,000 people, stating it showed the strength of feeling on the issue.
Cambuslang Community Council has already conducted a number of meetings over the summer months in a bid to address problems it sees as fundamental to regenerating the town.
Members have successfully campaigned to have the scope of the park and ride review widened to include Main Street and the surrounding area and have met with directors of RBS and Clydesdale banks to discuss access to banking facilities ,including the availability of cash machines.
Positive meetings have also been held with local and Scottish government officials, as well as the Scottish Towns Partnership, who provided guidance and possible funding sources to support the work of the group.
People interested in volunteering for the community council or contributing to the regeneration effort should email CambuslangComCo@aol.com