Work is now underway on the new £2million Park and Ride facility for Carluke Railway Station.

The 1.9 hectare site will provide 330 spaces and include disabled parking, full CCTV coverage, a drop off area and shelter, new lighting and improved traffic management.

The limited capacity at the current car park has been causing problems for residential neighbours with congestion arising as a result of rail users having little option other than to park on Station Road itself.

Lanarkshire Councillor John Murray, the deputy chair of the council's Enterprise Resources Committee, said: "It's great news that work is now underway. Park and Rides enable commuters to have far greater choices about how they travel. It's obviously far better for the environment if people park there and take the train the rest of the way.

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"The hard work of the council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has meant that we have progressed with this project very quickly and I am sure the people of Carluke and the surrounding areas will be delighted."

As part of the proposal, traffic lights will be installed at the railway under-bridge to manage traffic movement and also at the Station Road/Kirkton Road junction.

Councillor Alistair Watson, the chair of SPT, said: "This is a fantastic development for Carluke and is a superb example of collaborative working between SPT and the council to fund a scheme that will deliver improved transport links.

"The council is to be congratulated for its forward thinking. We know from experience that developing Park and Ride sites like this one will prove successful because it's what the public wants."

The project, which is jointly funded by the council and SPT, is expected to be completed by the end of March 2010.

(GK/KMcA)