Business is being driven out of town by roadworks

Aug 21 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

ONE of Lanarkshire’s largest businesses say roadworks are strangling trade in Hamilton.

Traffic flow in the town is a “shambles”, according to Parks of Hamilton (Holdings).

In a letter to South Lanarkshire Council, the Hamilton-based motor group with dealerships across Scotland, refer to the “complete lack of coordination with regard to road repair activity”.

They add: “If the desired intention is to drive people out of Hamilton then the policy would certainly seem to be a success.”

Work is currently underway on a £1.4m project to improve the roundabout at the junction of Almada Street/Bothwell Road/Muir Street - close to Park’s registered office and in front of their Bentley garage.

That project is not expected to be finished until November.

The council last weekend completed a 16-day re-surfacing programme in Almada Street and Douglas Street.

And since January, Scotland Gas Networks, have been undertaking a £240,000 gas main replacement programme in Almada Street, Wellhall Road, and Burnbank Road, causing further problems for drivers.

That work should have been completed by June but completion has been held up because of technical difficulties.

In their letter to the council, Park’s say: “The recent activities of the utility companies and roads department leave one wondering if there is some kind of deliberate policy of disrupting the road traffic flow through the town to the extent that it is having a dramatic effect on business in all areas of the town.”

They say traffic management provisions in place for the roundabout upgrade are acceptable.

However, the company believe that this work added to other projects, already underway in other parts of the town, had led to “confusion and frustration” for drivers.

They add: “Generally, the traffic flow through the town is a shambles and there would appear to be a complete lack of coordination with regard to road repair activity adding to the problems instigated by the roads department.”

The company say alternative routes have been progressively closed off leading to “continual traffic jams” as cars are funnelled towards fewer road junctions.

A spokesman for Scotland Gas Networks, who have responsibility for the country’s gas distribution infrastructure, said their work was essential and would “secure the gas supply in Hamilton for years to come”.

She added: “We liaise closely with the council and have to apply to them for permission to open up the road.

“At the moment we are working in Wellhall Road and there have been a few issues as the project involves taking pipework across a railway bridge.

“That has been quite technical and we have had to liaise with Network Rail, but the work should be finished in three weeks.”

A council spokesman said they were “surprised” at the criticism by Park’s as, prior to the resurfacing works, every business likely to be affected by the work received a personal visit from a roads officer who outlined the planned programme.

He added: “We believe we did everything we possibly could to let as many people as possible know about the resurfacing works in Almada Street and Douglas Street and are pleased that the traffic management systems worked well.

“Rain fell during 13 of the 16 days our workforce were operating in Almada St and despite this, the project still came in on time and budget. ”

The spokesman said they had timed the start of work in Almada Street and at the roundabout to coincide with the expected end of SGN’s replacement project.

He added: “Unfortunately SGN have met with various difficulties and we had no option other than to press ahead with the roundabout improvement works which have to be completed by November to ensure there are no traffic problems for people wishing to visit Hamilton in the run-up to Christmas.”