Go-ahead for £700k park and ride project

Plans to spend £700,000 on land for a park and ride at Cambuslang train station have been approved – despite questions over value for money.

Members of South Lanarkshire Council’s housing and technical resources committee last week agreed to buy 2.4 acres of land for the project.

The proposal was approved despite one councillor describing the price tag as an “inordinate amount of money for parking”.

Deputy leader of the Labour group, Councillor Gerry Convery was unconvinced that the site at Bridge Street, near James Aiton Primary, was worth as much if it was only being turned into a car park.

But council officers told the committee that the proposed facility was dubbed a “high priority”in the South Lanarkshire Park and Ride Strategy – approved last October – following an increase in rail usage.

They also said the cost of the land will be covered by a grant from SPT.

The development will see 260 spaces created to encourage commuters and other residents to use cars less often.

It is also hoped it will alleviate pressure on other parking spaces in the town, which residents have been complaining about for several years.

Michelle Farmer, of Cambuslang Community Council, welcomed the decision.

“We are absolutely delighted to see this progress and we are grateful to our local councillors for supporting the case and to the officers for negotiating the land acquisition,”she said.

“Cambuslang station is used by more than 800,000 passengers a year, but the town has the poorest park and ride capacity in South Lanarkshire.

“With the growth in Cambuslang’s population, the forecasts are that the station may be used by 1.2 million people by 2026.”

Michelle added:“The new Bridge Street car park should relieve the pressure on local streets and free up space in the town centre car parks for shoppers.

“It should have sufficient charging points for electric cars, and we hope that it will be designed so that we have a more attractive‘gateway’into the town.”