In May 1977, Strathclyde Regional Council came up against a public outcry that roads in Blantyre were only being done up because a royal visit of the Queen Mother was due.
After years of neglect, council workers were spotted nearly every day in April and May out in various Blantyre streets, prompting residents to complain that this was only being done as the Queen Mother was soon in town to open the Africa Pavilions at David Livingstone Centre.
The rumours and accusations were strongly denied by the council ahead of the royal visit on 24th May. However, it was noticeable to many that the route the visitors car would take was being upgraded and resurfaced. From Bothwell Bridge, Whistleberry Road, Glasgow Road and Station Road extensive work was being done to upgrade fences, fix potholes and indeed Station Road itself was entirely resurfaced. Coincidence? To many people, no.
Roads Engineer, William McClue denied there was any connection between the royal visit and the sudden flurry of activity in the area, adding ‘We are desperately trying to keep Whistleberry Road operational until the new EK Expressway is built. This is ongoing and planned a long time before any royal visit. It coincides with work on Glasgow Road for traffic management plans, part of Blantyre’s redevelopment, again in the pipeline for some time.”
The Queen Mother is pictured at the David Livingstone Centre later that month.
