LET THERE BE LIGHTS
Anger after council switch off street lights on Cathkin Bypass
Cathkin residents have hit out at South Lanarkshire Council after street lighting on the bypass road was turned off.
Under South Lanarkshire Council’s revenue budget savings proposals street lighting was to be switched off completely along roads where there are no houses or commercial premises.
This included the roads at Cathkin Bypass, however, although there are no houses there are several bus stops and it tends to be a busy road with regards to pedestrians.
Alex Borland, chair of the Cathkin Residents Association, claimed the council had failed to carry out appropriate public consultation before taking the decision: “There was a notice put up last Thursday (August 28) saying the lights would be de-energised on September 1.
“We had previously been told the council would do a feasibility study and share it with the residents - we haven’t heard anything back. There has been no consultation with locals about this.
“As winter comes in, this will become an even bigger issue. It can start getting dark as early as 3pm when it’s winter and there are elderly people who cross that road to get to the shops. The council have a responsibility to them and they are failing in that responsibility.”
Head of South Lanarkshire Council’s Roads and Transportation Services, Gordon Mackay, said: “As part of the 2014/15 savings proposals approved by the Executive Committee on January 29, it was agreed to switch off lighting on sections of road where there are no houses or commercial premises fronting onto the road or footpath, subject to appropriate risk assessments being completed.
“Cathkin By-Pass, from East Kilbride Road to Burnside Road, was one of the areas considered as part of this package.
“However, we are looking at alternative solutions rather than switching off the lights completely.”