Businesses on Cambuslang Main Street have come together to call on South Lanarkshire Council to change the lay-out of the road.
The group have collected over 1000 signatures in a petition, which also calls for changes to the parking regulations in the centre of the town.
They say the road lay-out and parking rules drives custom away from the Main Street.And they fear it will become even worse when a proposed Sainsbury’s opens on the site of the old Hoover site.
The petition was organised by Jean Austin, manager of card shop Pandora’s Box, and was set to be taken to South Lanarkshire Council this week by Councillor Clare McColl.
Jean reckons the road lay-out, which sees the Main Street effectively split in two, is a hazard.
She said: “When a bus stops on the Main Street the whole road is blocked.
“If something broke down you couldn’t get an ambulance or fire engine up this road.
“The council should put the road back to the way it was, they should at least talk to businesses before making changes like this.
“We want to encourage business into the area but the carry on with the parking makes that very difficult.
“Another situation will arise when the Sainsbury’s opens.
“They will have parking facilities but there isn’t enough to serve the local shops.
“The parking and road lay-out takes traffic away from the Main Street and the community.”
Other businesses are angry about the parking restrictions that lets shoppers leave their car for just 30 minutes while they go about their business.
Parking spaces in central Cambuslang are in short supply with commuters and residents also unhappy at the facilities.
Paul Roper, of PPPCR, says his printing firm has a specific problem as the time limit outside their business allows parking for just 10 minutes.
He said: “No-one can come in and place their order, say for a funeral service, in 10 minutes, it drives customers away.”
Iain MacLean of Iain’s Carpet’s added: “Customers do not have enough time to shop and if I go out to take measurements somewhere else, when I come back I can’t get parked.”
Wasim Anwar of Corkie’s Liquor store said: “If they don’t solve this no businesses will come here.”
Councillor McColl said it was important to help local businesses in tough economic times.
The Main Street has already suffered from the temporary closure of the main post office.
She said: “Simply, if we don’t get something done people will not come to Cambuslang to shop.”
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “As with all densely populated town centre areas, where there is a mix of commercial, business and residential properties, the demand for parking is high.
“The council has sought to balance the demands of shoppers for short stay parking with businesses needs for servicing, along with the need to provide parking facilities for “blue” badge holders as well as a provision for taxis, buses and residents.
“We would be happy to review the existing regulations to ensure that the balance still reflects the competing demands.”
