Consultations to date, including Public Local Inquiries
Extensive consultations have taken place over many years for the upgrading and improvement works that form part of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project. These consultations were held with statutory and non-statutory bodies including local authorities, the public, SNH, SEPA, interest groups, businesses, landowners, and more.
To keep the general public and local communities informed of the developing proposals numerous public exhibitions, meetings, and leaflet drops were undertaken; some of which are summarised below:
September 2005 - public exhibitions undertaken to publicise and consult on the options considered for the M74 Raith Interchange works and the preferred proposal. A questionnaire/consultation leaflet was distributed to gather public opinion on the proposals.
December 2005 - leaflet distributed to 25,000 properties within the vicinity of the A8/M8 corridor to consult with the public on the preferred proposal for upgrading the A8 to motorway between Baillieston to Newhouse.
March/April 2006 and October/November 2007 - public exhibitions held at a number of venues in the vicinity of the A8/M8 to consult with the public and interested parties on the proposed works. The Draft Road Orders and the Environmental Statement for the A8 upgrade were published and re-published prior to these exhibitions to allow scrutiny of the proposals and any objections to be raised.
The Made Orders were published in March 2011.
March 2007 - the Draft Road Orders and the Environmental Statement for the Raith Interchange proposals were published to allow public consideration.
The Made Orders were published in January 2011.
March 2007 - public exhibitions were held at two venues local to the Raith Interchange to consult with and inform the public of the proposed upgrade.
May 2008 - information leaflet on the widening works distributed to the 3,700 properties within a 600 metre wide corridor of the affected motorway network.
May 2008 - the Draft Road Orders and the Environmental Statement for the proposed widening works were published to allow public consideration.
The Made Orders were published in January 2011.
June 2008 - public exhibitions held at five venues in the local communities to consult and inform the public of the proposed widening and other improvements to the existing motorway.
A Public Local Inquiry (PLI) was held for each of the A8 upgrade to motorway between Baillieston to Newhouse and the improvement works to sections of the M8 M73 and M74.
In each case the Inquiry was open to the public and was held before a Reporter appointed by the Scottish Ministers. Following the Public Local Inquiries each Reporter presented his findings to the Scottish Ministers in a Report, that sets out his conclusions and provides a recommendation.
Glasgow – Edinburgh Completing the M8
The PLI for the A8 upgrade was held in Baillieston and considerd the objections to the proposed upgrade. The PLI was held in July 2008 lasted for approximately three weeks.
The Finance Secretary announced on 14 December 2010 that after considering the findings and recommendations of the Reporter from the PLI, he had given the go ahead for the upgrade to motorway status for the A8 Baillieston to Newhouse.
M8/M73/M74 Network Improvements
This PLI was held in Hamilton in April 2009. The subsequent Ministerial Decision to proceed with the proposed works was received in January 2010.
Looking for further details of motorway and trunk road improvement projects across Scotland?