Time for action at ‘eyesore’
JONATHAN GEDDES
Action is desperately needed to improve a Rutherglen eyesore that has been“left to rot”, according to a local councillor.
The old Rutherglen baths site on Greenhill Road has been empty since 2005, with the last known owners of the site, Reigart Contracts, proposing to build flats there over a decade ago.
Rutherglen Central & North councillor Janine Calikes has now called for action, speaking as a proposed new policy could give councils the power in the future to sell sites like the baths at auction, rather than go unused.
She said: “The site of the old Rutherglen Baths has been purchased by developers and left to rot.
“Local constituents contact me regularly to enquire about this site in particular as they would like to see the fenced-off eyesore brought into community use.
“The area where the baths was is fenced off and it just attracts fly-tipping and stuff like that, and that’s an area that could be used to solve problems in this area - it’s not on that this has just been left there.
“It’s a good bit of land and there are very valuable things could be done with that piece of land, whether it was a community building, or another car park, or something that could go to good use for people that live in the area.
“What’s been happening over the years there is a real shame – I have tried to speak to Reigart to find out if they still own the land and what they intend to do with it, but they have not been responding.”
Ms Calikes was commenting as the Scottish Government confirmed that local authorities will be given ‘compulsory sale order’ (CSO) powers by 2021, in an attempt to bring derelict landsites back into usage.
The councillor added: “There’s other pockets of land throughout Rutherglen that this could affect, too.
“At the moment, Councils can purchase an area if they have plans for it but they cannot force a sale through, whereas this could make it easier to bring places like the baths site back into use.”
The proposal was recommended to the Government by the Scottish Land Commission, who argued that it would have several benefits for Scotland.
Head of Policy and Research at the Scottish Land Commission, Shona Glenn said: “Vacant and derelict land and buildings present challenges for many communities across Scotland and can often act as magnets for crime and anti-social behaviour.
“This damages quality of life for existing residents and can act as a deterrent for inward investment, making it more difficult to bring about long-term regeneration and renewal.
“Compulsory Sales Orders could provide planning authorities with a straightforward mechanism to bring sites and buildings that have been unoccupied and/or derelict for an undue period of time back in to productive use, which can be of direct benefit to communities across Scotland.”
It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 sites of land lying derelict across Scotland and more than 30,000 empty homes.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey is a supporter of the proposed policy.
She said: “For too long, developers have held onto valuable buildings and sites allowing them to deteriorate and damage our local landscape. This not only diminishes the quality of life for those living or working in the area, but can also act as a deterrent for inward investment too.
“These powers could play a vital role as we help tackle the blight of abandoned buildings in our communities.”
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “The council is aware of the recommendations made by the Land Reform Review Group and the comments from the Land Commission relative to Compulsory Sale Orders, and will respond to any future changes to legislation as required.”
Reigart Contracts did not respond to requests for comment.