ROADWORKS HURT LOCAL BUSINESSES

Profits down in Plean by up to 40 per cent

Businesses in Plean say they have suffered profit downturns of up to 40 per cent during more than a year of roadworks in the village.

Work costing £25million to bury cable previously carried by 51 pylons began last September along the A9 between Springkerse and Glenbervie.

It is being carried out by Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN), as part of an agreed “legacy” from the installation of the 137–mile BeaulyDenny line and aimed at modernising a key link in the transmission network.

However, the project has caused

major disruption to people travelling between Stirling and Falkirk and it is not due to be completed until the third quarter of 2019.

Motorists have often faced three and four sets of roadworks along the route at any one time and delays in Plean have been lengthy at certain times.

Kilsyth–based Alex Graham’s Bakers, who have a shop in Main Street, Plean, believe the traffic problems have hit their business.

Director Denise Trainor, daughter of Alex Graham, said they had experienced a 40 per cent decrease in business over the last 12 months.

She added: “We had to pay off a female member of staff and we’ve also had to cut the hours of one of our bakers.

“The roadworks have obviously had a big impact on the people that live nearby, but when it’s your livelihood then it’s a different matter. We are just a small family run business.”

Mrs Trainor said that despite the tough financial impact, they expect to continue trading in Plean.

John Hamilton, managing director of petrol station and MOT centre, Village Garage Engineers, also in Main Street, said that the business has been hit hard during the works.

He is looking for compensation.

He said: “It has been an absolute nightmare. It has really affected us and our figures over a two-year period.

“We have had to submit finances for the past two years just to see if we are due any compensation.

“At one point one of our entrances was completely blocked. It’s not just us. All the shops are feeling it because there’s nowhere for the cars to stop so they just pass by.

“At one point there were three sets of temporary traffic lights between here and Bannockburn.”

A new set of temporary lights have now been put in place between Bannockburn roundabout and lorry stop on the A9.

Scottish Power said the first phase – including installation of ducts – was complete.

However, workers will return over the next few days to carry out surfacing works.

It’s expected that the lay– bys outside of the shops will remain open.

The next phase of works will be to install the cables within the ducts. These works are expected to cause less disruption than the previous installation as the required traffic management is much smaller. The works will require three excavations to be open at any one time – one near Plean Industrial Estate, one near the War Memorial and one near to the junction with Gallamuir Road.

This phase is expected to take 4–6 weeks from late January.

A Scottish Power spokesperson said: “Works in the Plean area are now almost complete, with the full programme of work due to be completed in the third quarter of 2019.

“SPEN have been working closely with Stirling Council’s road department to minimise any disruption.

“SPEN apologise for the inconvenience and disruption these works have caused and thank the local community for their patience.”

The entire project is to be completed by the third quarter of 2019.