Scrapped maintenance plans are overturned
Motion passed despite SNP efforts
The scrap ping of ground maintenance in Mossneuk and Garden hall has been overturned.
We told you previously how South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) announced they would permanently abandon maintenance of open spaces there, claiming the sites were privately owned.
That’s despite the local authority taking ownership of the land from the former East Kilbride District Council and maintaining it since it was first developed more than 40 years ago.
Earlier this year the council said landowners would have to pay an annual fee for council staff to cut the grass, trim hedges and alike.
The move, which would affect nearly 1100 properties in Mossneuk and Gardenhall, was met with anger from residents and representatives.
Now it has been overturned thanks to a motion from independent councillor, David Watson. That was supported by fellow East Kilbride West elected members, Labour’ s MoniqueMc Adams and Tory councillor, Ian Harrow.
Councillor Watson told the News: “I’m pleased the motion I moved with support from two other councillors was successful.
“Regrettably the SNP Group voted against this motion and proposed an amendment that would have meant local residents potentially being liable for hundreds of pounds per annum in factoring fees.
“I was disappointed that, despite declaring an interest – in so much that I stay in the area – the council leader tried to silence me and bar me from participating in the debate and from voting.”
The scrapping of the work was part of a £30,000 a year savings package agreed in the 2020/2021 budget. That would have seen maintenance work stop at 101 sites across South Lanarkshire that the council said they did not own.
This included plots in Mossneuk and Garden hall where all grass cutting and maintenance stopped.
As well as the pre-existing agreement, Councillor Watson argued there had been no consultation with residents prior to the decision.
The approved motion now means the savings will be reversed and a detailed review of all 101 sites needs to be supplied to the elected members before any further decisions are made.
It had been suggested that developers Taylor Wimpey own the land, but no discussion took place with them and they have now challenged the council on their assertions.
Councillor McAdams said: “It ’s important to point out that it’s still not clear who owns the land and it should be noted that this wasn’t how it was presented to us as elected members previously.
“The public need to know that SNP voted against this motion to solve the grass cutting situation in Mossneuk which has caused extra distress
during C OVID to the residents affected.
“SNP councillor John Ross tried and failed to get Councillor Watson’s motion disallowed as incompetent before it was presented.
“The support from all the other parties was outstanding and their councillors welcomed this motion. I’m glad sense prevailed and that we got the support off of all the other South Lanarkshire Councillors apart from the SNP group.”
AS NP spokesman said :“We believe that private land should be
maintained by private owners - a view that was shared by every councillor when we all voted in favour of it only a few months ago.
“It is simply untrue to say the SNP did not propose a solution to the ongoing dispute in Mossneuk.
“Our motion to full council would have ensured the grass was cut whilst engagement with the private owner continued. Other councillors disagreed and we accept the outcome of the debate. We will now work with officers to ensure the ground is maintained going forward.”