WATCH: 1000 people sign petition as Bearsden residents to lose parking spaces following traffic light installation

Over 1000 people have signed a petition to reverse the decision to put traffic lights on a road in Bearsden, which will see several houses lose their car parking spaces.

Work is set to begin today on Milngavie Road at the junction where the Allander Leisure Centre is located, which East Dunbartonshire Council has said is for safety reasons.

The junction where the lights will be installed is next to the new Cala Homes and Robertson Homes which have been built next to the Allander Leisure Centre.

The Allander is currently undergoing refurbishment to create the new 'Allander Leisure and Day Care Centre'.

14 properties with parking outside their homes on Milngavie Road are now being told to park their cars in a private lane behind their houses.

Difficulties for visitors, deliveries & labourers

Lynne McLean, owner of one of the properties affected, said: "The proposal is that this will be a no-waiting restriction at any time, which means that we can't have visitors round, we won't be able to get deliveries, if we're getting any work done in the houses - tradesmen won't be able to park.

"We have elderly residents who will be affected by the traffic light installation.

"We have families with young children.

"Myself - we've got a disabled child and likewise, that will impact on her ability to be independent on a road which is adjacent to traffic."

Speaking about the private lane behind homes which the council has suggested residents use to park their cars, Lynne said:

"These properties were built at a time when it was a luxury to have one car, never mind did they ever envisage we could possibly have two.

"You're trying to put two cars in here plus a shed - you're left with absolutely no amenity at the back of these properties.

"It's thousands of pounds to have landscaping done these days. Not only the cost though - it's actually just the lack of amenity and also the emissions.

"Whenever someone's trying to negotiate their car into a space in the back garden, it's a forward-back, forward-back, forward-back manoeuvre."

Residents should use private land

East Dunbartonshire Council has said the parking outside the front of the houses on Milngavie Road is public parking, therefore residents do not own the space and should be using the private lane for parking going forward.

Gordon Cox, joint convener of Bearsden North Community Council, said:

"I think it's very difficult to look at the back lane which was built at the same time as the houses and say that it's fit for purpose for modern day vehicles.

"Whilst it's true to say the residents don't have a right to park their cars outside their houses, that public parking has been there for a very long time, and it's difficult to see who else other than the people engaging with those houses would want to park there."

Thomas Glen, Depute Chief Executive - Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets, said:

"We fully take on board the concerns expressed by local residents and officers have been involved in several discussions, but safety remains the overriding consideration.

"When the new Allander Leisure and Day Care Centre opens there is likely to be an increase in traffic and greater demand on the junction between the A81 and the road leading to the facility.

"The planning application for the new centre, which was granted by the Planning Board on 23 June 2020, was accompanied by a Transport Assessment which concluded that an upgrade to traffic lights would benefit traffic flows at peak times.

"Regrettably, there will be a loss of public on-street parking on the A81, but traffic lights are considered the best option for the safety of all users. The residents have a private access lane available to the rear of houses, which can be accessed from Mosshead Road."

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.