CALTON MSP CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION ON SUBSIDENCE

21 Jan 2014

SONY DSCCalton’s MSP, John Mason, has called upon the Scottish Government’s intervention following yet another subsidence issue within his constituency.

For the third time in a row, a building or road within Glasgow Shettleston – in close proximity to Glasgow 2014 venues – has been closed due to subsidence.

In January 2012, a major strategic road in the East End was closed for six months when the building at 594 London Road was deemed unsafe.  Later that year, in October 2012, part of the road surface between Celtic Park and the Emirates Arena collapsed.  This meant that another part of London Road was closed for eight months – directly outside two Commonwealth Games venues.

Just recently residents in Millroad Drive in the Calton area had to flee their home due to subsidence.  Mr Mason has now written to both Derek MacKay MSP, Minister for Local Government and Planning, and to Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, to seek the Government’s intervention.

Commenting, John Mason, local MSP, said:

“This is the third subsidence issue in the last couple of years – all within a very close proximity to strategically important roads or Commonwealth Games venues.

“Unfortunately the previous two cases – both on London Road – have shown Glasgow City Council to be incredibly slow to take action which is simply unacceptable.  I am keen to ensure that the Council acts quickly and efficiently on this occasion, so I have written to the Scottish Government to ask what locus they have over this particular issue.

“Local residents, businesses and other organisations simply can’t afford to wait five and six months for action to be taken by the local authority, so hopefully the Council and Government can move this along as efficiently as possible.”