Closures of public roads because an aircraft carrier is in Loch Long have been criticised by the area’s MP.
HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of the Royal Navy’s two new 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers, sailed up the Clyde on Sunday, going alongside at the Glen Mallan munitions jetty, ad is expected to leave tomorrow or on Saturday.
Both the A814 from Whistlefield to Arrochar and the C69 Glen Douglas road have been closed all week – as happened during the carrier’s first visit last year.
Brenda O’Hara, MP for Argyll ad Bute, said: “While I can understand that for security reasons, it may be necessary to introduce restrictions or limit access to the A814 at Glen Mallan while the HMS Queen Elizabeth is visiting, closing 13km of road between Garelochhead and Arrochar for an entire working week does seem excessive.
“Local people and businesses rely on that road, and any prolonged closure which forces lengthy diversion is not ideal.
“I have written to the MoD and Argyll & Bute Council to ascertain why such a lengthy closure was deemed necessary, whether they intend for this to be the case every time the HMS Queen Elizabeth is at Glen Mallan, and what advanced notice was given to the communities that have been affected by this closure.”
Four years ago the MoD asked for roads to be closed whenever the carriers visited Glen Mallan – that request was refused by the council, but despite this the road closures have been imposed.
An MoD spokesperson said that HMS Queen Elizabeth was ‘ammunitioning ahead of planned maritime exercises off the coast’, adding that temporary road restrictions were a matter for the council.
“The decision to close the road would depend on the nature of the operations being conducted at the jetty, so it may be that there will not be closures for every visit,” he said.
A council spokesperson said: “On the request of the Ministry of Defence, the road was required to close in the interest of and to facilitate works.
“The length of time the works take can vary. On this occasion, the road closed for a short period. The road closes at particular points to give road users a number of alternative routes.”
Is this really all Brendan O’Hara has to do with his time? The defence of our realm is more important than some inconvenience to a few. God bless the crew of the Queen Elizabeth.
Well said Norah, If Mr O’Hara concentrated on his proper job rather than moaning at everything trivial then people might just might take him seriously. I notice his not moaning about his 2.9% pay rise when everyone else is taking pay cuts. What he fails to mention is what good news it is for Helensburgh when the crew come into town and spend money in our local shops and pubs. QE your welcome back anytime.