Show your support for home town
A Cambuslang businessman has urged locals to take more pride in their town as he outlined his vision for a vibrant town centre.
Jimmy Stevenson, one of many Cambuslang people who contributed to the Greening the Main Street scheme, called on residents to be ambitious in their hopes for the town and said people must respect work that has already been done.
Jimmy , a f o rmer soldier who launched T4S Landscaping seven years ago, acted as a consultant and secured produce at cost price for the Cambuslang in Bloom project, which has seen planters and floral hanging baskets installed on the town’s main thoroughfare.
The project’s completion was celebrated with a public event on Saturday, when Jimmy said he was delighted to be able to give something back to the community and encouraged others to appreciate volunteers’ efforts.
He said: “We have a small garden centre in Cambuslang and we were approached by Ca m b u s l a n g Community Council, who were undertaking the Cambuslang in Bloom project.
“There is a team of about 25 people that help out on Thursdays and Saturdays. They have filled the large planters, hung baskets and this week we planted old raised beds on the other side of Main Street.
“We have put a lot of work into this. The community itself is helping out and the shopkeepers have signed up so we have done a lot to try and brighten it up.
“But there’s spray paint on the bus shelters and it’s disappointing at times when we are doing all that work and we have had to replace hanging baskets because people pulled them down.
“I physically caught someone last week pulling out plants to take home for his wife.
“It could do with a bit more respect.”
Jimmy is hopeful that the efforts of Cambuslang Community Council will inspire others to get involved in making their town a better place to live, work and play.
“We have a cracking Main Street but it is not as good as it could be,” he said.
“As long as we keep getting new blood and new things done, it can only get better. If we get more money next year we can add more plants and baskets.”
Jimmy hopes to see bin shelters introduced on M Main Street so commercial bi bins could be hidden from vi view.
Wooden sheds could be painted and decorated with flower baskets, he explained.x
He also hopes South La Lanarkshire Council will re reward the volunteers’ eff efforts by painting railings in the town centre.
He said improved pa parking would encourage vi visitors to spend more time in town and help local bu businesses to thrive with pa passing trade.
A pedestrianised area co could also allow a cafe cu culture to flourish, with ou outdoor seating areas.