Building site safety fears
Concerns pedestrians and pupils are at risk from truck convoy
NICOLA FINDLAY
A construction firm has been told to improve the safety of a site in East Kilbride after concerned locals branded it “an accident waiting to happen”.
The site of the former St Leonard’s Primary near Brancumhall is being transformed into 60 new homes by building firm Cruden on behalf of South Lanarkshire Council.
When finished, it will be one of the local authority’s biggest developments of new social housing.
However, worried locals raised concerns over the proximity of huge lorries to pedestrians and footpaths next to the site as well as their speed entering and exiting it.
Although the schools have now broken up for the summer holidays, construction work will continue once they return after the summer break.
Local resident, Alistair Hendry, told the News of his fears.
He said: “I don’t know how no one has been injured.
“There is no real barrier between the lorries and people using the footpath, which is uneven and a danger in itself.
“I have had a few close calls crossing the road myself, as had the lollipop man when the schools were in. The lorries were also coming in at the busiest time when the schools were coming in and out before they broke up.
“It is a disgrace and downright dangerous.
“Things have quietened down now that the schools have finished for the summer, but what happens when they come back?”
The dangers posed by the lorries was highlighted to local councillor Gladys Miller.
She told the News: “Mr Hendry raised the issue with me about the lack of a decent footpath or space for pedestrians, the speed at which the trucks were entering and exiting the site and the danger of children being invisible to these huge trucks.
“I went down to check the site. I was aghast.
“I have never seen a site where the pathway for pedestrians is not protected.
“I raised the issue with the director of housing and technical resources and his officers investigated as a matter of urgency.
“He confirmed that all of the subcontractors will be closely monitored by the site management team and vetted by their health and safety team to ensure that they are complying with the processes in place.
“The council’s property services management team will also continue to monitor the site during the course of the construction activities.”
South Lanarkshire Council executive director of housing and technical Resources Daniel Lowe added: “Council officers have addressed the issues with the contractor.
“The contractor has confirmed that all sub-contractors have been working on the site and will continue to be closely monitored by the site management team to ensure they are complying with the processes and site controls in place.
“These include restricted delivery times and the co-ordination and control of construction traffic at the site entrance.” Gordon Lee, partnering and procurement director for Cruden Building, said: “As with all of our developments, we effectively manage transport operations throughout the construction process to ensure the safety of the local community and pedestrians moving around the site area.”