U-turn by MSP claim on dualling controversy
The SNP group at South Lanarkshire Council have hit back at an East Kilbride MSP who challenged local authority leader John Ross to scrap the controversial dualling of Stewartfield Way.
Tory Central Scotland list MSP, and former East Kilbride West Councillor, Graham Simpson called for a commitment from Mr Ross to bin the City Deal project once and for all. He claims a poll of residents in the Stewartfield area was overwhelmingly against the proposal – and urged cash to be spent on the electrification of the town’s railway.
But the SNP have accused Mr Simpson of hypocrisy – saying he previously supported the project.
A spokesperson said: “The City Deal was negotiated when Graham Simpson was a councillor and his party were in a coalition administration at the council – Mr Simpson himself supported the project.
“It seems bizarre that he has decided to raise his objections and try and score a political point after the deal has been struck.
“We are working with the City Deal cabinet to deliver transformative change in South Lanarkshire, taking on board comments from communities and attempting to renegotiate some of the deal the previous administration signed up to.”
In a newsletter from 2014, Mr Simpson talks about the City Deal and the proposals for Stewartfield Way - saying that while it will be disruptive and controversial, there will be“long-term gains”.
The £62 million City Deal also includes plans to dual Greenhills Road at the Langlands end and is part of a £1 billion investment in the west of Scotland from the UK Government aimed at kickstarting the area’s economy.
Mr Simpson last week accused leader Mr Ross of “ploughing ahead”with the Stewartfield Way plans regardless.
“An overwhelming majority of the comments said the money should be put into the electrifying of the rail network and dualling the line from Busby into Glasgow,”he said.
“There is a widespread view that the City Deal money would be better spent on trains rather than roads.
“We now need to know if council leader Ross shares that view.”