CAMBUSLANG -- ''the water with the bending bank'' -- lies south of the

Clyde about five miles to the southeast of Glasgow, where the

disappearance of heavy industry employers such as the coal pits and the

huge Clyde Iron Works, and a reduced Clydebridge Steel Works, have left

their mark. Hoover is now the major employer.

The railway and the busy A724 slice the town in two, and there are

those who live ''up The Hill'' and those who don't. Up The Hill are

handsome Victorian stone villas, and new private estates. Six brick

villas are under construction at the end of Busheyhill Street.

Across the other side of the tracks, over Main Street, are tower

blocks and flat-roofed council schemes. Despite demolition and

redevelopment, there are still problem areas at Woodlands Crescent and

the Circuit, and most of the former council housing is bought by local

people.

Valuer Murray Houston of Slater Hogg & Howison says: ''The traditional

houses in Cambuslang's conservation zone are very popular with people

working in the city. A traditional six-apartment semi round about

Central Avenue will cost about #95,000, whereas the same property in

Pollokshields would be around #165,000.''

Patrick Byrne, who owns a house on Main Street, says: ''Life can be

quite rough here. For leisure you need to go into Glasgow -- no picture

halls or suchlike. And half the shopping precinct is closed.''

Communications Fifteen-minute drive to city centre. Strathclyde buses

run regularly to Balornock East. Kelvin Central buses serve the

Lanarkshire area. Good rail links to Glasgow on the Argyle and

Strathclyde lines. Stations at Main Street and Greenlees Road (Kirkhill

Station).

Citizens Advice at Glasgow Road.

Education Primary Schools are Cairns, Aitons and St Cadocs. Cathkin

High School on Western Road at Whitlawburn, and Trinity High School.

Some nursery school provision at Birch Drive. Cambuslang College of

Further Education offers HND, HNC, National Certificate and Construction

Craft courses. Adult education classes from first-aid to basic cookery

at Eastfield Resource Centre, Circuit Community Hall, Springhall

Community Centre, Trinity High School, Gilbertfield Centre, Halfway

Recreation Centre and Cathkin Community High School.

Healthcare Nearest hospitals are Victoria Infirmary, Langside, and

Rutherglen Maternity, Stonelaw Road. Cambuslang Clinic at Johnson Drive.

Greencross Lodge Nursing Home, Tabernacle Street, opened recently in a

converted primary school.

Shopping Main Street has Presto, Greggs, Capital Foods, Mackays and

local grocers, butchers and newsagents. Safeways in Rutherglen.

Library Cambuslang Library, Glasgow Road, offers photocopier,

community information, computer, audio collection and disabled ramp

access. Glasgow City Libraries operate a mobile service.

Eating Out A number of traditional cafes, such as Station Cafe, 252

Main Street. Good selection of ethnic eating places -- Cafe Shabab, 7

Burn Avenue (home delivery); Curry Palace Take Away, 7 Main Street;

Peking Palace, East Kilbride Road; and India Palms, 3 Burns Place.

Reasonably priced pub meals at Finlays, 230 Main Street.

LEISURE

A general lack of facilities, but Glasgow is within easy reach.

Cambuslang Park, Greenlees Road and Cairns Road, offers a modern play

area on bark surface and pleasant walks. Cambuslang Institute, Greenlees

Road, has a range of activities from Christian meetings to Lyn Thomson

School of Ballet.

Tennis club, with new clubhouse proposed, and bowling club. New trim

track sports area next to Gilbertfield Centre.

Cambuslang Unemployed and Community Resource Centre, Morrison Street,

has free classes in hairdressing, art, health and fitness and a Women's

Group. Many community centres offer other classes.