Long road closure branded ‘disaster’
Safety work diversion confusion
A Highland Perthshire resident living near Queen’s View and Forestry and Land Scotland are calling for answers followinga contentious road closure to put in a crash barrier.
Diversion signs placed by Perth and Kinross Council warned drivers not to go on the B8019 passing the Queen’s View Visitor Centre while workmen erected a safety barrier.
But the planned one-week closure from October 31 to November 8 was not enough to get the job done and the signs were altered to keep traffic away for a further two weeks.
Then on Saturday, November 23, the first day the road should have reopened, the blunder saw signs still up saying cars could not get through.
The Queen’s View Visitor Centre had not been made aware of the extra day of diversion and expected normal trade to return that Saturday morning, with café staff baking goods which went unsold.
James Rattray from Killiecrankie drove up that way at 11am on November 23 and found ‘Road Closed’ signs at Garry Bridge but when he ventured further up, discovered traffic being waved through.
He called the B8019 episode “a disaster”, alleging that PKC, Tayside Contracts and the sub-contractor brought in to put the crash barrier had failed to communicate with locals, leading to a vulnerable independent business losing weeks of trade due to the “stranglehold on access” to its shop and café.
“I will continue as best I can to try to ensure measures are put in place so the lessons are taken on board to prevent this happening again,” Mr Rattray declared.
Perth and Kinross Council distanced itself from the decision to close the road for part of the extra day, saying: “Perth and Kinross Council did not give permission to extend the road closure to Saturday, November 23 and we regret any inconvenience caused.
“It was agreed with the contractor that they could work on the Saturday using temporary traffic management. Unfortunately the signs were erected by the traffic management company without the permission of Perth and Kinross Council.
“The signs were removed as soon as we were aware of them, and the road was open on Saturday [pm].”
A spokesperson for Forestry and Land Scotland, which owns the land the Queen’s View Visitor Centre is on, said: “Tourism is a mainstay of the rural economy and in many cases, is the only thing that keeps rural businesses afloat.
“We will be speaking to Perth and Kinross Council to find out why the closure of the main road to the Queen’s View Visitor Centre and beauty spot was, at short notice, extended from one week to 24 days.
“It’s unfortunate that in this case the works took longer than was initially advised.
“The poor communication around this resulted in the loss of visitors and trade for Cobb’s, who run the Queen’s View café.
“We aim to understand fully what happened to avoid any future issues arising.”
Looking forward, bookings for a very special ‘Breakfast with Santa’ at Queen’s View Visitor Centre on the weekends of December 7/8, 14/15 and 21/22 are being taken now on 01796 473188.