Fury at Bothwell surgery plans
DOCTORS are risking the wrath of environmentalists by planning to build a surgery on Bothwell's Nature Trail.
They will move from Bothwell Medical Centre in Uddingston Road to new, bigger premises in Clyde Terrace if South Lanarkshire Council can be persuaded to sell land and grant planning permission.
However, the proposal faces fierce opposition as a chunk of open space is required for the new building and a car park.
The Nature Trail – once a railway line – is a popular walkway leading from the Woodlands area of Bothwell to woods overlooking the River Clyde.
In recent years significant sums of money have been spent improving the path, installing lights, planting thousands of bulbs and building ponds.
It is claimed a move is required because the existing health centre is too small.
But one villager opposed to the idea said: "Building on the Nature Trail would be outrageous. Wildlife ponds created just a couple of years ago would be lost as would trees and part of the wildflower meadow.
"There are other sites that could be looked at such as the old gas board land towards Uddingston."
Bothwell councillor Maureen Devlin admitted the Nature Trail proposal is unpopular in some quarters, but said she is in favour.
She said: "I can understand people being upset, but we're not talking about a big part of the Nature Trail. Trees that would be lost are in poor condition and not worth saving."
Councillor Devlin added that the council's own countryside rangers have been consulted on the plan and are happy with it.
Full story in February 25 edition of Times & Speaker
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bellshill
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 1 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
