Surprise road closures in Cove and Kilcreggan which caused chaos for drivers and bus passengers this week have been defended by Argyll and Bute Council.
The B833 Shore Road was closed simultaneously at both the Mill Brae and Ardpeaton on Tuesday afternoon, meaning scores of commuters had to use the Barbour Road, which is single track with very few passing places.
One of the contractor’s workers was redirecting traffic, apologising that the wrong signs had been put up – there was no warning of road closures or indication of a diversion route, just signs warning of a slippery road surface.
Bus operators complained that some of their services to and from Helensburgh were running a full hour late because of the work.
A spokesperson for the council claimed there had been signs warning of the road closure and that buses would only have been affected by a short delay.
He said: “We have been carrying out work to improve road surfaces across Argyll and Bute. This has been a £1.5m project which is part of a wider £3.6m capital investment road improvement programme.
“During the works at this location, the road had to be closed for a short time as it is too narrow in parts to allow vehicles to pass safely.
“This work was planned well in advance and the road was subject to a temporary traffic regulation order.
“Signs were put up several days in advance to make the public aware and we confirmed to bus operators that despite the closure, they would still have access to the road, although their passage through the works would be subject to a short delay.
“The road was closed for around three hours.”
The work is ‘surface dressing’, which the council says is replacing the surface of the road in an attempt to stop water getting in and damaging it and to provide skid resistance.
There were never any warning signs in place or notifications in the press or anywhere else. The council as usual got it wrong and can’t even have the good grace to apologise.
The so called signs in advance warning of the closures must have been invisible!! Why would you close these two roads simultaneously. Who would ever plan work like this!! Now we have a dressed road that is chipping our vehicles nicely!! Thank you Argyll and Bute another debacle! Just as well you don’t run the Kilcreggan ferry.
I cannot disagree with Malcolm and Stewart. Local Councillors are normally informed in advance of any planned road closures in their ward which allows us to try and ensure that as many of our constituents are aware of such plans well in advance of it happening. This certainly did not happen on this occasion as I was not aware of the road closure until I drove to Rosneath on Thursday. It certainly came as a surprise to me and caused a great deal of disruption to many of my constituents and traveling public. There again, it should not have come as a surprise to me as councillors are often now the last to be told about issues that effect their ward. Councillor George Freeman