Family fight to stop road that would go through their farm

Published on Monday 30 June 2008 22:19

THEY have fought the road builders since moving into their farmhouse 41 years ago and are preparing to do battle again.

William and Christina Barrie are taking what could be a last stand against completion of the Edinburgh-Glasgow motorway link, which threatens to flatten their home.

Their case will be argued at a public inquiry that opens today into a new six-mile section of the M8 to replace the A8 dual carriageway east of Glasgow.

The scheme is currently expected to cost up to 210 million and be completed by early 2013 – two years later than previously expected, because of changes in European planning regulations.

The plans include three miles of new three-lane motorway south of the A8 between the Baillieston and Eurocentral junctions. A further mile of three-lane motorway will follow the route of the A8 between Eurocentral and Chapelhall, with the remaining two miles of dual carriageway to Newhouse upgraded to two-lane motorway. Journey times are expected to be reduced by up to four minutes.

Mr and Mrs Barrie, who are 85 and 79, remain implacable opponents of the plans, which would include a section of motorway being built through their home at Braehead farmhouse, near Bargeddie.

Mr Barrie said they were unhappy with a compromise proposed by the Scottish Government's Transport Scotland agency, which would see the road moved slightly south, away from their three-acre grounds.

He said this would involve a new 40ft wall to separate the house from the road, at the bottom of a cliff.

The couple have also been offered 400,000 to move, but have been unable to find another seven-bedroom farmhouse in the area that would enable them to remain close to their family. Their grandchildren keep horses at the farm.

Mr Barrie, who ran a haulage business from the site employing up to 30 people, said they had been fighting new roads since moving there in 1967.

One of the first sections of the M8, from Harthill to Newhouse, was completed in 1967, and reached Baillieston from Glasgow city centre in 1980.

Mr Barrie said: "I'm fed up. This has been an ongoing subject since 1967. I have more paperwork on it than it would take to cover the road. I have been made many offers, but have turned them all down. We intend to stay."

A total of ten objectors include Honeywell Control Systems, which has raised concerns about noise, vibration, flooding and interruption to its business.

Transport Scotland said it had been in negotiations with the Barries and had "developed an engineering solution which will give them the option of staying where they are if they do not wish to accept compensation for moving."

It said the A8 upgrade would bring "significant benefits to the Scottish economy and the travelling public".

The inquiry at the Caledonia Centre in Caledonia Road, Baillieston, is expected to last up to three weeks.