A South Lanarkshire councillor has called for the local authority to start improvement works on a deteriorating bridge in Carstairs.
Conservative Councillor Alex Allison for Clydesdale East brought the issue of the bridge to the executive committee meeting on February 2.
He raised an amendment to the capital programme report at the meeting to ensure that the council completes the work on the bridge in the next financial year.
All groups at the meeting voted against the amendment, leaving the Conservatives the only ones in favour.
Councillor Allison said: “After four years of splitting another community with the closure of the Clyde Bridge, which has resulted in significant financial cost to the commutes of local residents, we as the council should be ensuring that the funding which has been saved from the new Ponfeigh Bridge through the Government grants, now goes to the new Clyde Bridge with a commitment the bridge be completed and open within the next financial year.
“It is disappointing that the other council groups have chosen to further kick the can down the road in the council’s commitment to build the new Clyde Bridge – which will most likely come at a greater financial cost than if the work had been carried out earlier due to a continued rise in costs of building materials.”
The bridge, which is on Pettinain Road, south of Carstairs Junction, closed in September 2019 due to its deteriorating condition, it is closed to traffic and pedestrians with a diversion in place.
An improvement plan for the bridge has been drafted and construction work was scheduled to start in summer last year.
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