NEILSTON residents have demanded the council quits treating them like ‘second-class citizens’ when it comes to roads.

East Renfrewshire Council has been accused of letting village roads fall into disrepair while prioritising more affluent areas.

The issue was highlighted at the most recent meeting of Neilston Community Council, when one member said: “There’s a ‘them and us’. We’re the ‘us’ and over on the other side of this council authority is the ‘them’. 

“And they seem to be giving more priority to the roads over there than on this side. I’ve been reporting the state of Main Street, which is a disgrace, but nothing’s being done, yet the council has money for streets in Giffnock and Newton Mearns.

“I am fed up with the divide. That lot over there - Giffnock, Eaglesham, Clarkston - seem to get everything.”

The frustration is shared by many people in the community. Fiona MacLaren, a resident of Millview Terrace, told the Barrhead News: “I think our roads are the worst in the whole of East Renfrewshire. 

“We’ve been told the council doesn’t have any money for the works and there’s other places that need it more, but we don’t find that acceptable.” 

The Roads Service has a list of around 350 carriageways and 250 footways requiring attention, but can only afford to carry out between 15 and 20 resurfacings per year.

A council spokesman said: “Roads across the whole of the authority are assessed by our team and are prioritised based on a number of factors. 

“Those most in need of repair have been added to our works programme for 2018/19, which includes a number of schemes in Barrhead and Neilston. Work to repair our roads network is an ongoing issue and by prioritising work by need rather than area, it ensures resources are allocated in the most fair and equitable way.”