Garage owner cracking up over damage claim

Published 16 Dec 2009 17:05 0 Comments

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By Jennifer Cauley

AN ANGRY businessman is looking for answers after his wall was seemingly damaged by a construction company.

Paul Martin, who owns C & M Motors on Henry Street, is demanding an explanation after the outer roughcast of his home and business suffered a crack the length of the wall. He claims it happened when it was hit by a digger moving a container to a new housing development across the road on Cross Arthurlie Street.

He claims the Link Project, the company responsible for the construction of the flats, refuse to take any responsibility for the damage they have caused and are asking him for photographic evidence to prove that he did not cause the crack himself.

Paul said: "I've lived here for a really long time, and now they're trying to squeeze us out.

"Other families live here too and we're all very unhappy with what's going on.

"I've given loads of evidence to the council and spoken to Link, and as of yet have had answers from neither.

"Someone has to take responsibility for this - not only the crack in the rough casting, but for the serious health and safety issues that these cranes and the mess that they are creating are causing to the local community."

Telling of further disruption to his business, Paul says that he is having to wash cars two and three times before he can send them back to their owners.

He also said he is disgusted with the amount of mess left on his property and on the surrounding street - claiming to have given evidence to East Renfrewshire Council's Environmental Health Department to support his case.

He added: "It's just a nuisance, really. Something needs to be done. The council have been round to see it, but don't seem to think there is a problem."

The Link Project - who have already received a warning from the council in regards to their noise pollution problem - said: "Our site agent has reported to us that there has been no damage to Mr Henry's house as a result of the construction work on our site in Barrhead.

"We are keen to discuss this issue with Mr Henry, however, and will be contacting him.

"We are sorry if any out-of-hours noise has disturbed residents and are now closely monitoring the company that is building the homes on our behalf to ensure that work takes place only within agreed working hours.

"As with any building site, particularly during the winter, there can be a build up of dust and mud.

"We would ask residents to bear with us and understand that we are doing our best to build these much-needed affordable homes as quickly and with the least disruption to them as possible."

This article appeared in Barrhead News 16 Dec 09

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