MORE than 500 residents in Barrhead, Neilston and Uplawmoor have already taken part in a consultation which will see hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on improving roads and pavements.

A voting process for the local authority-led East Ren Decides project will remain open until September 8.

Those who live in the region are being given the chance to decide how a £600,000 cash pot should be shared between infrastructure projects across four areas, including Levern Valley, which takes in Barrhead, Neilston and Uplawmoor.

Residents can vote on 33 projects, worth between between £35,000 and £100,000, with at least £100,000 going to each area and a further £200,000 handed to the locality with the most votes.

The other locality areas are: Newton Mearns; Thornliebank and Giffnock; and Netherlee, Stamperland, Clarkston, Busby, Eaglesham and Waterfoot.

East Renfrewshire Council selected the zones based on roughly equal population and the inclusion of a broad cross-section of community groups.

Councillor Colm Merrick, East Renfrewshire’s community services and community safety convener, said: “I’m delighted that we have already had more than 500 residents voting in the first two weeks of this process.

“We wanted to give residents a voice and a choice in this important issue of upgrading our residential roads and pavements.

“It is putting the power into the hands of the people most affected by these important upgrades by asking them how we should spend their money, assigning a portion of this year’s roads budget to this participatory budgeting pilot scheme.

“The vote is open until September 8, so there is still plenty of time to cast your vote and make sure the road or pavement scheme you want to see upgraded first gets the votes it needs.”

Winning projects will be announced in late September, with work taking place between January and March next year.

Votes can be cast by residents and business owners by visiting East Renfrewshire Council’s online consultation tool Citizen Space at www.getinvolved.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk.