BAGS of toxic waste were dumped under the noses of Glasgow councillors yesterday, serving notice of the fierce opposition they face in promoting the controversial M74 extension from Fullarton Road to the M8 at Kingston Bridge.
The roads and transportation committee gave its blessing to a revised proposal which scraps the direct link with the Kingston Bridge, reduces lanes from five to three in each direction and cuts the cost from #250m to #170m.
However, members were soundly berated by anti-roads activist, Rosie Kane, who accused committee members of ignorance of the issues involved and the damaging consequences for local areas on the south side of the city.
She warned construction of the extension would disturb deposits of toxic waste along the line of the new highway, creating health risks for the local population.
As she left the committee room, she dumped small bags of waste which she said contained chromium, arsenic and lime, freshly dug by herself at Toryglen.
Later she said: ''They can't link it to the Kingston Bridge because the bridge is crumbling. It's now going to disgorge more than 110,000 cars per day on the south side of Glasgow. This is totally unacceptable when the White Paper on transport is about to be published, saying we have to get out of cars and into public transport.''
Scottish Militant councillor Tommy Sheridan said there was a very powerful lobby of commercial interests trying to promote the project in a very one-sided way and called for a public inquiry into the new proposals.
Afterwards Councillor MacLellan argued that the proposed extension in essence reflected a sustainable transport approach. It would get traffic out of the streets and improve bus times.
Meanwhile, work started yesterday on a #2.6m West Flank Road which will provide a new connection between Drumchapel and Great Western Road in Glasgow.
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