Roadworks cost local businesses

Published 27 Jan 2010 17:12 3 Comments

Share this

CONGESTION: The roadworks in Cross Arthurlie Street

By Ewan McInnes

SHOP owners and residents are up in arms about the new roadworks which began in the town last week.

It is claimed that the shops on Cross Arthurlie Street are already suffering a bigger drop in trade than expected and delayed motorists have been left fizzing at the length of time it takes to get through the temporary traffic lights.

The roadworks had some teething problems with two water pipes bursting in separate parts of the street and phone lines being cut off for nearly an hour.

Chippy owner Eric Santi has told the Barrhead News how the affected shops have suffered more than they were expecting to.

He said: "It has been a nightmare and it is dead, all the shops are the same.

"I have been open since ten and there's been one person in after two hours.

"We have done half the sales that we do normally but what can you do? All the shops are the same as far as I know.

"I am going to have to tell all the girls who work here their hours will need to be cut, it's unfortunate but no way can I keep them all on their normal hours.

"Maybe the first week will be the worst week and it is the last week of January but I have never seen the street as bad as this."

Council bosses insist the £800,000 redevelopment of Cross Arthurlie Street will be completed in May.

But at this month's Barrhead Community Council meeting, worried members expressed concerns the town will become grid locked when road works begin on the Main Street.

Speaking after the meeting earlier this month, chair Tommy Reilly said: "Members are concerned that if the road works on Main Street are to be done at the same time as the ones on Cross Arthurlie Street there will be serious congestion in Barrhead. I think people expect inconvenience but they don't expect chaos."

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesman confirmed that their roads crew unearthed two Scottish water service pipes and a Virgin media duct which was too close to the surface.

He added: "This is normal during work of this kind and all matters have been put right. The crews have also found tram rails and have had to lift some of these where the surface above them was too thin to take the weight of the new surface."

The spokesman insisted work on Main Street will continue until the end of March because of a hold-up with the suppliers of granite paving being used on the job.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 27 Jan 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Jen
Unregistered User
Jan 29, 11:15
Report comment

I sent my boyfriend out to Santis for a chippy dinner on Tuesday, and as he wouldnt be able to park close enough - he went to the Turkish chippy at the station instead - I was really looking forward to my fish n chips too! I hope the buisnesses won't suffer too badly, and hopefully the work won't take too long to complete.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
jim
Unregistered User
Feb 12, 13:44
Report comment

what did you get - a kebab ?

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
rob
Unregistered User
Feb 16, 20:33
Report comment

I guess they should just allow the road to go further into disrepair, you reckon they would be happy then?

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

Follow @barrheadnews

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.