A local MSP has strongly criticised plans from Scottish Water to put in place junction closures at the Broomburn Shops in the month of December.
Jackson Carlaw, who represents Eastwood, has hit out at the publicly owned water supplier for intending to proceed with the programme of work that may have a “significant detrimental impact” on local businesses during the busy Christmas trading period.
As part of a project to install a new water main from Newton Mearns to East Kilbride, Scottish Water will commence a rolling programme along Mearns Road from Monday 4th December.
The restrictions to be put in place include the closure of the two main routes for accessing the car park at the rear of the Broomburn Shops.
The first of the access points to the car park on Mearns Road is positioned just before the traffic lights at this section of the road and is nearby the Broomburn Medical Centre.
The second way to enter the car park is through exiting Mearns Road at the location of La Vita Piccolino e Vino and travelling a short distance along Broomburn Drive before turning left where the Mearns Opticians is situated.
Mr Carlaw has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament to highlight what he sees as a highly dissatisfactory approach from a publicly owned body and he is requesting that Scottish Water reschedule the programme of work.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“The decision of Scottish Water to put in place junction closures that severely limit people’s ability to access the car park at the rear of the Broomburn Shops during the busy Christmas trading period is highly likely to have a significant detrimental impact on local businesses at the worst possible time.
“The two potential alternative routes are both at a considerable distance from the shops and neither are relevant to traffic approaching from the Clarkston side of the community.
“It is important to note that Small Business Saturday takes place on 2nd December and just two days before the junctions will be closed.
“As the local MSP, I am aghast that at a point in the year where we highlight the need to support small local businesses, Scottish Water are proceeding with highly detrimental activity to the Broomburn Shops.
“The approach adopted by the publicly owned body is in my view unacceptable and I call on Scottish Water to alter the scheduling of the proposed programme of work so it does not take place when the impact on the Broomburn Shops will be most damaging.”
Notes:
The first map highlights the junction closures to be put in place.
The second map shows the alternative routes suggested by Scottish Water for accessing the Broomburn Shops when the junctions are closed.