Barber slams South Lanarkshire Council over access ‘fiasco’

Aug 14 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

ROADS chiefs who closed part of a main Hamilton road failed to properly consult traders there, it was claimed this week.

Barber Steve Shannon was speaking after South Lanarkshire Council workers coned off a pavement and part of Quarry Street in preparation for a six-day re-surfacing job.

However, the cones were lifted after an incensed Mr Shannon and other traders complained that customers would have difficulty accessing their businesses during the work.

Yesterday (Wednesday), council managers met with the traders to discuss the arrangements for the work.

The trouble started at about 9am on Tuesday when South Lanarkshire staff closed off part of the town centre-bound lane and adjacent pavement along Quarry Street and Gateside Street.

Five businesses were affected, including 46-year-old Mr Shannon’s Back to Black hairdressers.

He said: “The first we heard of this was when the cones were laid out.

“It meant that we couldn’t get out and customers couldn’t get in to our businesses. They were going to close the pavement and create a walkway for pedestrians in the road.

“As far as I could see, there was only going to be a line of cones separating pedestrians from the traffic, which didn’t seem very safe.

“I explained our position to a member of the council’s staff and the restrictions were lifted at about 10am.

“However, at about 10.30am they came back and set out the cones again,

“By that time, I had spoken to my lawyer and his view was that, to close the road and footpath, they needed temporary closure orders.

“I asked the council staff whether they had these documents and didn’t receive a satisfactory answer and about 10.45am they lifted the cones and disappeared again. It was a total shambles.”

Mr Shannon said he lost business last year when, for months, there were restrictions on Quarry Street, Gateside Street and Low Waters Road because of a £450,000 gas main replacement project.

He added, however: “We accept that this work has to be done but want to be able to continue trading in a safe manner while it is going ahead.”

A spokesman for the council said: “Essential programmed maintenance is being carried out on the footways of Quarry Street and Gateside Street, Hamilton, which involves footway resurfacing and kerb repairs.

“In order to carry out the works safely and to minimise disruption, there will be localised traffic management in place throughout the daytime. At no time will either of the roads be closed.”

He added: “In this instance, Mr Shannon claimed that pedestrian access to his shop was being blocked. Unfortunately this claim was made before the complete traffic management arrangements were put in place.

“Initially, works were stopped when Mr Shannon raised his concerns and subsequently we have met him, explained the proposals and apologised for not giving him advisory notification prior to the works. Mr. Shannon is now aware of the traffic management proposals.”