Labour trio demand cash for town centre
JONATHAN GEDDES
Cambuslang should be the top priority for South Lanarkshire Council’s additional funding, according to a group of Labour politicians.
The council has been given more than £2.5 million by the Scottish Government to help improve and revamp town centres, and will decide where to spend the funds by next month.
MP Ged Killen, MSP James Kelly and Cambuslang West councillor Margaret Walker have written to the local authority’s chief executive Lindsay Freeland regarding the funding, demanding that Cambuslang Main Street benefits from the cash boost.
Complaints about the Main Street have been a long-running issue for residents and community groups, with many previous calls for investment.
In the letter to Mr Freeland, the trio state: “We strongly believe the town centre fund is an ideal opportunity for Cambuslang to receive the much-needed improvements that locals have been requesting for some time.
“Over several years, thanks to the work of the community council and many individuals and businesses in the local community, issues that are holding the town back have been identified and solutions have been proposed.
“South Lanarkshire Council now needs to do its part and turn these ideas into reality.”
Mr Killen told the Reformer: “Groups such as Cambuslang Community Council have put in hard work to identify these issues and the solutions to address them.
“They are rightly hoping that the council will work with them by delivering the funds to enable improvements to move forward.”
In response, Pauline Elliott, head of planning and economic development, said: “A report with spending options will be presented to the council’s community and enterprise committee in June.
“Officers will be making recommendations to members on how best to spend this money based on the government criteria and the likelihood of committing it within the very tight deadline of March 31 next year.”