A COMMUNITY has launched a campaign against a new road being built over a popular recreation ground.

Bosses at South Lanarkshire Council have drawn up a plan to join a new road to the Cathkin bypass and run it through an area of Blairbeth and Fernhill Park in Rutherglen.

But locals say the road isn't needed and will deprive them of a wild space which is in use every day. More than 1,000 people have signed a petition against the road, and further protests are planned.

They have also formed the Cathkin Relief Road Opposition Group to spearhead opposition to the scheme, which is currently working its way through the council's planning process.

The group is made up of over 250 local residents from Blairbeth, Catkin, Fernhill and High Burnside, and has been active on social media.

Aside from the loss of a large section of the park, people living in the area are angry over plans to build 7ft sound-dampening barriers along a stretch of the road, which will involve uprooting a beech hedgerow which was planted more than 70 years ago.

Opposition group member Alan McLennan said: "The area in question was more or less turned into a park in 2000 and handed to the community in 2001.

"It's a hugely popular area for recreation and is used by dog walkers, joggers, cyclists and other people. Local nurseries bring the children their for outdoor play, as do local primary schools.

"Losing it would be a huge loss to the community so we intend ,to fight this plan for as long as we can."

Mr McLennan said he believed the decision to move forward with the scheme was tied to 'City Deal' money made available from the Scottish Government to councils to allow them to carry out major infrastructure projects.

In August 2014 Ministers committed over £500 million over 20 years to the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal, and this project is expected to cost around £20m.

Mr McLennan said: "The road was first mooted around 45 years ago and it's been on and off the table since then. But I believe this money is a case of 'use it or lose it' so the council are keen to press ahead now.

"They say it is to ease congestion, but the need for it is based on a traffic survey that's way out of date. Traffic here has been vastly reduced by the M74 extension and there have been no problems since it opened up."

A protest march against the proposal has been organised for 20 June.

Fellow group member and local resident Christine Eliott said: "I live just a couple of metres from where the road would be, and there is no other green space like it in the area.

"It's the only place where I can go with my pram and my four-year-old son on his bike, and that's the same for many, many people.

"If the road was to be built at the bottom of my garden I would be very worried about the effect on the air quality."

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: "Subject to planning permission being granted construction on the Cathkin Bypass is expected in 2016. If approved the road will reduce traffic on local residential roads, reduce congestion at peak times and cut carbon emissions.

"There would also be significant economic benefits of this and other City Deal projects with opportunities for further economic growth and new jobs. Public transport and cycle journeys will also be improved."