Diversion for £6m project slammed
Councillor blasts planned road closures
Proposals for a huge diversion on a main route out of Strathaven as part of a multi-million pound energy project have been criticised.
Around 30 locals arrived for the Strathaven Community Council meeting last week to vent their frustration at the long-term closures due to works by SP Energy Networks.
Loudon Street from the medical centre to Commercial Road will be shut down from May 14, which will be followed by Hamilton Road and Commercial Road closures from May 30.
Commercial Road will again be blocked off from Loudon Street to Hamilton Road before weeks of work starting at some point in July.
This will impact two contraflows on the A726 Hamilton Road from the industrial estate to Muttonhole Road.
The £6 million project is expected to benefit 7000 homes, according to SP Energy Networks (SPEN).
Conservative councillor for Avondale and Stonehouse, Graeme Campbell, has joined the calls for a re-think.
He said: “As a resident of Strathaven myself, I’m well aware of how poor the electricity supply is in the town and I’m in no doubt the circa-1960s substation needs replaced.
“What frustrates me the most is that Scottish Power have made no effort to look at alternative routes for this cable and have taken the easiest route possible.”
Cllr Campbell fears locals face as much as a 27 mile diversion between Strathaven and Hamilton, with public transport disruption and major access problems to the medical centre.
He noted that he was working with all the local councillors to find a solution to the woes.
He added: “Right now, I simply don’t have all the answers required to satisfy my constituents with a project Scottish Power have been working on for at least three years but now wish to shove through in a few months without a care in the world for the Strathaven community, its people and its businesses.”
A SPEN spokesperson said: “This £6m investment project will replace old equipment nearing the end of its life, and will also relocate our main substation in the area from the existing town centre location to a much more appropriate site outside the town centre.
“We have been working closely with the council and a range of stakeholders to ensure that inconvenience to residents and businesses is minimised during the project.”