Parking survey shock
90 per cent wanted change
Cambuslang Community Council has blasted South Lanarkshire Council after details emerged of a parking survey about the Main Street from four years ago.
Figures obtained by the group through a freedom of information request showed nearly 90 per cent of businesses who responded said parking did not meet the needs of customers.
Despite the figures, the survey was never passed to committee and council chiefs decided the mix of short-stay and long-stay parking in the town centre was sufficient.
But David Thomson, chairman of the community council, this week said the council “have no excuse for further inaction”.
He blasted: “SLC must immediately begin working with the business community to find a parking model that supports rather than prevents trade on the Main Street.”
South Lanarkshire Council officers have been accused of sitting on a report that suggested around 90 per cent of businesses on Cambuslang Main Street said parking in the town was not sufficient.
Documents obtained by Cambuslang Community Council through a freedom of information request show 30 out of 34 businesses answered ‘no’ when asked if parking met the needs of customers in a survey carried out four years ago.
According to the community council, the survey also suggests a lack of provision for deliveries, with 26 businesses not having access to off-street space.
Despite the high level of dissatisfaction, it is understood the findings of the survey were never reported to a council committee.
The bombshell figures come just months after an extensive survey conducted by the community council found parking to be the number one problem
It is intolerable that, for four years, SLC officials sat on the findings of their own research showing trade on the Main Street was being damaged by inadequate parking provision
for businesses in the town centre. Back then, Pauline Elliott, the council’s head of planning and economic development, said a recent review demonstrated “competing needs between those that require a high turnover in parking which contrasted with those that require longer time to park.”
The review concluded that “the current mixture of short and long stay parking in the town centre is appropriate.”
However, David Thomson, chair of the community council, reckons that is not the case.
He said: “We know from our own business survey published earlier this year that virtually every business on the Main Street wants to see parking reviewed.
“They have been demanding more spaces in the car parks reserved for shoppers, a park-and-ride for commuters, and more parking time on the Main Street.
“Yet at every turn South Lanarkshire Council have rejected our proposals and resisted taking action.
“Even now, when they have money for a parking review from an SPTE grant and community gain funding, they are insisting on strictly limiting any review to the creation of a park-and-ride.
“They have been refusing point-blank to look at parking issues across the whole town centre.
“What is worse, SLC have not been straight with the community.
“SLC have argued that their own survey showed that businesses are divided over the need for a parking review, implying that some are happy with the status quo. Now we know the reality: their own survey showed that businesses are united in wanting change.
“It is intolerable that, for four years, SLC officials have not acted on the findings of their own research showing that trade on Cambuslang Main Street was being damaged by inadequate parking provision.”
The community council has been backed by local businesses.
Karen Crooks, who runs the Classy Chicks beauty salon ,said she was “disgusted,” adding: “The council are fast losing any credibility on the issue of parking.
“We are angry and fed up with the council’s disregard for the views of the Cambuslang business community and we want to see action on parking now.” The community council now want a survey into the potential for a park and ride facility in Cambuslang extended to include the whole town centre.
Representatives from the group met with council leader, John Ross, before receiving the freedom of information request went back to them.
The community council described the meeting as “positive” and Councillor Ross has set up a “high-level” meeting at the end of this month with council officers.
Councillor Ross said: “I recently met with Cambuslang Community Council and local business representatives to hear their concerns and talk about ways we can all work together to improve the situation, especially on the high street.
“While no one realistically expects things to turn around overnight, it was a very constructive meeting and I am confident that we can make real progress.”
Margaret Walker, councillor for Cambuslang West, backed the community council, saying: “The views of businesses in Cambuslang and the wider community are abundantly clear in this matter.”