BARRHEAD residents have been left baffled by a decision to resurface just half a footpath in the town.

The path leading from Springhill Road to St Luke’s High appeared to be undergoing a full revamp as part of a new housing development.

A fresh surface was laid and the path was widened – but residents were left scratching their heads when, halfway through, workers packed up their tools and left the rest of the route, down to the river, untouched.

While some were sure a team would return later to finish the job, it was soon confirmed they would not.

And pictures of the scene drew astonishment when they were posted on social media.

John Gormlie is among the local residents who have been left bemused by the unfinished path.

He said: “I can’t believe they would stop short and leave this in such a mess. The part they tarred is brilliant but why stop where they did?

“Why didn’t the council do some joined-up thinking and pay the contractors to finish off the path to the viaduct?”

Mark Thomas Taylor described the situation as “ridiculous.”

He said: “I understand they have been working on that area but surely they could continue across the bridge?

“The kids have to cross it every day for school in muck from the building site.”

East Renfrewshire Council confirmed the newly-laid stretch of path was all that developer Miller Homes was obliged to complete.

A spokesperson said: “Miller Homes are currently developing a housing site on Springhill Road. The new drainage system for this site includes a drain that was installed next to the original pathway leading from Springhill Road to St Luke’s.

“Developers had to dig up a section of the original path, install the drain and then resurface the area. Only the section of the path that was needed for construction work was resurfaced, which is why only a portion of that pathway is new.

“In accordance with the planning consent, Miller Homes were only required to reinstate the part of the path that they removed to insert the drain.

“The original path was inspected and cleaned up after the construction and there are no safety issues with the footpath.”

Further confusion was caused in the area after the council’s roads department began resurfacing Springhill Road but stopped halfway through.

Responding to a query from Barrhead Community Council, a council official said resurfacing was halted due to delays with development works in the area, but would be completed in due course.

No-one at Miller Homes was available for comment.