The programme of work at Aurs Road to provide a safer and more direct route from Newton Mearns to Barrhead is a key local project.
Alongside the delivery of a better road connection between this part of Eastwood and Barrhead, the project will establish a waterside promenade to overlook the Balgray Reservoir and other improvements are also planned.
The Aurs Road transformation programme is a collaborative City Deal initiative with £5.5 million of finance agreed by the previous UK Government to support the project and the Scottish Government contributing the same amount.
East Renfrewshire Council is also providing significant financial support towards the initiative and there are other sources of funding.
The City Deal programme has funded a range of outstanding projects in East Renfrewshire including the £5 million office accommodation complex at The Greenlaw Works in Newton Mearns.
To take forward and ultimately complete the construction activity, it has been necessary to shut off Aurs Road from it’s junction at Stewarton Road in Newton Mearns to Springfield Road in Barrhead.
The programme of work is intended to last for a total period of 12 months and is scheduled to conclude in December of this year.
Given the importance of the Aurs Road initiative but with the project also leading to local traffic disruption as a consequence of the road closure, it is very concerning that there have been reports of delays to the completion timetable.
East Renfrewshire Conservative Councillor Andrew Morrison questioned senior local authority officials on the matter at the most recent meeting of the full council in June and it was set out in response that there is no suggestion of a delay.
However, it subsequently transpired at the end of July that problems with ground conditions at the site have now been identified and an assessment was taking place to establish what effect this may have on the efforts to transform Aurs Road.
As Councillor Morrison has rightly articulated, the work at Aurs Road will deliver an improvement to the roads infrastructure but it’s closure has resulted in a negative impact for residents and with other local roads bearing the brunt of increased traffic volumes.
To deliver the project on schedule and ensure the ongoing traffic displacement resulting from the closure does not continue into 2025, there needs to be a concerted effort to complete the work before the New Year.
Any other outcome would be hugely frustrating and lead to a further period of unwanted traffic disruption.
In other news, I was delighted to see both Rouken Glen Park in Giffnock and Whitelee Windfarm in Eaglesham receive the Green Flag Award by Keep Scotland Beautiful for 2024.
The core purpose of the award is to formally recognise the best parks and greenspaces in Scotland.
Rouken Glen Park has received the award for fourteen consecutive years and Whitelee Windfarm for the past four years.
I have tabled a parliamentary motion to welcome the continued status for both sites.
