Councillors in East Kilbride West have written to the provost in a bid to reverse the council’s decison to abandon grounds maintenance in parts of Gardenhall and Mossneuk.
Independent David Watson, Labour’s Monique McAdams and Conservative Ian Harrow asked Ian McAllan to rule over a material change in circumstances to the decision that led to South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) halting grass cutting and hedge trimming for common areas and paths.
The local authority say that a decision was taken as part of the 2020/21 budget – agreed unanimously – to halt maintenanace in areas which belonged to a third party.
But Councillor Watson previously slammed the decision saying there was no mention at the time of it affecting nearly 1200 properties in the Gardenhall and Mossneuk areas, claiming there was a compelete lack of transparency.
In the letter to the provost the three councillors state: “There is consensus among opposition group leaders that this saving should be suspended until an informed debate can take place with full disclosure of information regarding land ownership and adoption of land.
“If need be we will be proposing a motion to the next full council to have this suspended but hopefully consensus can be found before this and there would be no need for this motion.”
The trio’s main concern regarding the Mossneuk / Gardenhall area is the maintenance of common areas and paths that has now been withdrawn by the council.
They say SLC adopted its upkeep from East Kilbride District Council, with the common land being maintained by the council for the past 45 years
Their letter adds that locals were not entered into a discussion or consultation regarding the withdrawal of SLC services.
Councillor Watson claims to have seen copies of title deeds that “make clear” that common open spaces would be adopted by the local authority.
The letter to the Provost also refers to correspondence dating back to 2014 when SLC were looking into a land issue in the area and developer Taylor Wimpey confirmed that the deed of condition registered against the development confirmed that the open space would be adopted by the local authority.
Councillor Watson added: “The adoption of the open space must have happened as the local authority have been carrying out the maintenance and upkeep of the open space area since the development was completed.
“SLC also admitted to me in 2014 there are no official records survived from the East Kilbride District Council days regarding adoption papers for land.
“So how can they say they have not adopted the land when the custom and practice over the last 45 years shows that they have?
“The more this issue is investigated the more it becomes clear there are still a number of questions outstanding.”
A spokesman for SLC said: “It was previously suggested 101 sites were being maintained at taxpayers’ expense – in eight cases the private owners had been identified.
“It was proposed they should maintain the land themselves or contract the council to do it at their own expense.
“When asked in December to identity those eight areas, details were supplied to all elected members. This included the area in Mossneuk.
“Two months later the proposal to cease maintenance of these sites as of April 2020 was approved as part of a unanimous budget.
“SLC continues work to identify the owners of other areas which the council does not own but currently maintains.
“We would be happy to look at any documentation Councillor Watson has if he provides us with it.
“However, the area was never formally adopted by the council which means although we maintained the land we had no legal obligation to do so.”
