Tories were wrong about road repairs

Sir, With regard to your article last week, “Tories hit out at road budget”, I would like to set the record straight on the council’s roads maintenance programme and other investments we are making in our local communities.

What the Tories failed to tell your readers is that the council is currently spending about £22 million a year on road and footway maintenance, and the independent Scottish road maintenance condition survey shows that local road conditions have improved in each of the last seven years.

What’s more, the SNP administration’s budget protected the long-term roads investment plan and also provided an additional £2 million for the winter maintenance provision.

As part of that we are working hard to address the damage which has inevitably resulted from one of the worst winters we have experienced for some years.

Frankly, I am surprised the Tories feel able to break cover and comment on the council budget at all, given that they actually opposed a raft of other important measures which will help the most vulnerable in our society, especially children across South Lanarkshire who find themselves in poverty.

The Tories have a brass neck criticising our progressive budget considering that if they were in power nationally, Scotland’s budget would’ve been slashed by over £500 million. Councillor John Anderson Chair, Community and Enterprise Resources, South Lanarkshire Council

A friendly chat

At Independent Age, the older people’s charity, we’re always trying to help as many older people as possible.

Right now, we want to encourage older people in Rutherglen who may be feeling lonely to get in touch with us to find out about our friendship services, which could help to reduce loneliness.

We have friendly, trained volunteers waiting to make regular calls to the people who need them to help make a difference to their lives, so we’re keen to hear from people who may have lost touch with close friends or family and would like to find someone friendly to talk to.

Older people who would like to receive regular calls from a volunteer can sign up at www.independentage.org/get-support/receive-regularphone-calls-or-visits or by calling 0800 319 6789.

We are also looking for volunteers who can sign up online or by calling 0800 319 6789.

Yours sincerely, Jeanette Bates Independent Age