By Monica Gibson

AN investigation has been launched after a school bus shed hundreds of litres of diesel closing one of Barrhead’s main roads for more than a week.

Police were called to the scene on Grahamston Road, which links Barrhead and Paisley, shortly after 4pm on August 22 after drivers reported skidding through the fuel spill – with some saying their vehicles were left in a “filthy state”.

The road was closed as an emergency measure from Dykebar Hospital towards Barrhead while Renfrewshire Council carried out preliminary assessment.

And the route will remain shut into next week after the roads department ruled it dangerous with a large area in need of resurfacing.

The bus involved, owned by Barrhead firm T W Bradley Contracts, was contracted to run a school vocational route on behalf of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), which has confirmed a full investigation will be held into the circumstances of the incident.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of the incident and are carrying out an investigation into the circumstances with T W Bradley Contracts.”

Tommy Bradley, managing director, apologised to the public for the disruption, and told the Barrhead News he would cooperate fully with the SPT investigation.

He said: “We are looking into it. We think the driver has went over something that has flown up and caught the rubber hose underneath and burst it.

“There wasn’t a bump and was no other damage to the bus.

“We called in the mechanics and the police to help us out with clearing it up and it was all rectified. It was an accident and we are heartfelt sorry about it.”

Sergeant Michael Morgenthaler confirmed police were called to the scene amid concern for the safety of drivers.

He said: “It looks as though the bus was leaking fuel along a significant length of Grahamston Road. The vehicle basically emptied its tank along the road.

“Police arrived around 4.35pm and there was a significant amount of diesel spilled. The road was closed due to it being unsafe to drive.

“Police stood down at 7:30pm. East Renfrewshire Council had gritted the Barrhead side of the road and it then became an issue of the roads department of Renfrewshire Council.”

The vehicle which spilled the fuel belonged to T W Bradley Contracts, which has an office on Wraes View in Barrhead.

Renfrewshire Council revealed initial assessments found Grahamston Road in a dangerous condition and that it required to dry out before the full extent of any damage could be assessed, and confirmed yesterday (August 29), the road will be closed for another weekend so that repair works can be carried out.

The spokesman added: “Re-surfacing works will take place from Thursday, August 31 to Sunday, September 3. The road will re-open to traffic on Monday, September 4.

The closure has already caused a great deal of disruption for commuters with many road users taking to social medial to voice their complaints.

Lorraine More commented on the Barrhead News’ Facebook page: “As this is a major route out if Barrhead, its closure is having an enormous impact on traffic movements and as such I hope the remediation are carried out ASAP.

“I’m also seriously hampered in my daily journey.”

While some people found it difficult to understand why the road would have to be closed so long, Joe Fell commented: “The diesel will have weakened the binder, (bitumen), therefore the integrity of the road surface will be severely hampered, this will lead to the surface breaking apart and causing more damage to vehicles, so that is why the road has had to be closed.”

Eileen McIndoe said “My car is a mess and still stinks of diesel – I know accidents happen but this should have been dealt with quicker than it was - car will have to be fully valeted and polished.”