Impact on businesses assessed by the council

A council official will investigate busineses that suffer from the closure of a railway bridge for almost a year.

Last month the Wishaw Press reported how furious residents and traders demanded up to £100,000 in compensation from Network Rail for the inconvenience and lost business caused during the 11 months railway bridge closure.

They fear their businesses could fold because of the impact of the railway bridge being shut to vehicles until next August.

Network Rail say the closure is essential to allow utility companies to remove and then reinstate connections for gas, electricity, water and broadband to the town.

The work is being carried out as part of the Scottish Government’s £5.7million project to electrify the Glasgow to Edinburgh lime.

An economic development officer from the council has been appoinited to look at businesses losing trade during the bridge closure.

Councillor Tommy Cochrane said:“I put proposals to Network Rail and Transport Scotland which I think would help to mitigate some of the losses.

“Transport Scotland will report these back to the Transport Minister.

“Both councillor Cefferty, Alex Neil MSP, Neil Gray MP and myself are working as hard as we can to help Shotts.

“We are hoping to hear back from the minister on the matter within two weeks.”

Proposals to mitigate losses