Heavy lorries drive residents round the bend

HEAVY lorries working on the A80 upgrade near Cumbernauld have sparked concerns for homeowners.

Margaret Hunter says motorway maintenance vehicles have wreaked havoc on her Glasgow Road home.

Mrs Hunter has lived in the same house, within the conservation area of Cumbernauld Village, for 25 years.

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She believes vibrations from the lorries, used by companies upgrading the nearby A80, have caused structural damage to her home.

She said: "I've had to have my chimney replastered three time in the last six months.

"I started complaining in April 2009 about the speed of the lorries going over the speed bumps outside my house.

"The speed bumps are 24 feet away from my home and every time a lorry goes over them everything in the sitting room rattles. Next door is having similar problems.

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"Two civil engineers came out and said the problem was that it was an old house. I know that, but this is a conservation area so you would expect some consideration.

"I want Transport Scotland to send out a structural engineer who can tell me whether my property is safe or not"

She added: "The shake in the building is terrifying and my worry is that it's going to get worse."

A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland said: "We are aware of Mrs Hunter's concerns and our contractor has been in contact with her."

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Following a visit to Mrs Hunter's home, contractors said it was not possible to determine whether repairs already undertaken to the chimney were required as a result of vibration damage caused by vehicles crossing speed bumps on Glasgow Road.

Cumbernauld Village councillor Tom Johnston has been helping Mrs Hunter and has raised the matter with North Lanarkshire Council.

He said: "The area has been awarded conservation status and some investment is being made because of that, but there is now the problem with road works in the area.

"There should be a code of practice to give protection from heavy lorries.

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"They go through at speed and hit the speed bumps causing the houses to shake."

Phil Gaunt, North Lanarkshire Council's business manager for strategic planning said: "Correspondence has been received from councillor Johnston in relation to this issue.

"Environmental services will look into this matter and respond to the councillor direct."