Station facility isclose

The long-awaited park-andride facility at Shieldmuir Train Station is nearing completion.

Road surfacing is set to be completed by the end of the month and the vast majority of works are due to be finished by early September.

Site developer Taylor Wimpey has revealed that the works are progressing well and in line with their expectations.

The firm’s contractor has carried out challenging trackside development and the installation of cables for new lighting and CCTV has been completed.

Soft landscaping works will start in October and Taylor Wimpey are engaging with Network Rail in relation to the official handover process for maintenance of the facility.

Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig councillor Nathan Wilson has been following the progress of the station development closely.

In November 2017 a petition gathered more than 200 signatures in favour of the facility at Shieldmuir. Work was initially due to start in January 2018.

But by March 2018 the councillor was forced to contact both Taylor Wimpey and North Lanarkshire Council expressing his and constituents’ disappointment after work failed to get under way at the site.

The facility, which has taken over a decade to come to fruition, has been hindered by a number of setbacks along the way.

Construction finally started in March but was then brought to a halt by the Covid-19 pandemic. It recommenced in June.

Councillor Wilson has continued to correspond with the site developer and is delighted that work is now almost complete.

He said: “It’s great news that construction of the park and ride is going according to plan and is moving closer to the finishing line.

“I have been down to have a look at the site in person and it’s hugely encouraging to see the progress that has been made since the project re-commenced in June.

“Taylor Wimpey have confirmed with me directly that they anticipate most of the works to create the car park will have been carried out by the early part of September.

“The project has experienced many setbacks over the previous decade and this has proved to be a source of considerable disappointment and frustration for local people.

“It’s fantastic that the long wait for a park and ride is almost over and I look forward to its completion.”