Strathaven roadworks causing real headache
Businesses and locals fed up with disruption
FRASER WILSON
Business owners in Strathaven say they are at the end of their tether with the roadworks that are blighting the town centre.
Traffic in the idyllic market town has ground to a halt over the last few weeks as Scottish Water dig up the roads.
That’s as part of upgrade works for a nearby housing development that are expected to last for 35 days. But residents and businesses are already fed up with the havoc caused.
Chairman of the business association, Les Hoggan, told the News that the works had become a “real bugbear” that was causing “a number of issues”.
The authorities had previously held an open day talking locals through the various phases of the work – but Les says they have reneged on promises made.
He said: “The first phase of the work was on Townhead Street and it was supposed to finish before work on the Common Green.”
But that hasn’t happened and the works have overlapped – now locals are having to navigate roadworks round from the main road through the village, on to the busy and congested Common Green.
And that is making for a backlog of traffic, with slow traffic light filters. It is also causing problems for local businesses.
Les added: “The work in the Green was only supposed to affect the layby, but it’s right across the road.
“There’s a few more weeks of work to go yet and shops are being affected.”
The staff at Roasted cafe and deli in the village took to social media to express their displeasure at the works.
They posted: “This morning Scottish Water have caused a right mess on our doorstep.
“How much longer does this disruption have to go on for? Give us peace as we are independent shop owners and multi-national chains.”
Another store owner told us: “It’s a pain in the bloody ar*e to be honest with you.”
Head of roads for South Lanarkshire Council (SLC), Gordon Mackay, confirmed the works were being carried out by Waterwise on behalf of Scottish Water.
He told us: “This work will also help to improve the supply to the wider Strathaven community.
“The four-way temporary traffic signals in operation at present are due to be removed at the end of this week, with the works moving into the Common Green for a further two weeks.
“Unfortunately, it is inevitable works of this nature at such a tightly constrained location will cause disruption, and we sympathise with drivers and residents.
“However, we have worked with the contractor to plan these vital works in a way that keeps inconvenience Pics: Les Hoggan to a minimum, to maximise traffic flows and reduce congestion as far as possible.”
No temporary signals will be in place for the remainder of the work on the Common Green from the end of the week, although the road will be narrowed and parking laybys will also be out of use.”
From October 28 to November 17, the works will move further into Common Green and Bridge Street, where traffic will not be permitted to turn left from Common Green into Bridge Street.
It will instead will be diverted towards the A71 Kirk Street via Wellbrae.