Ayrshire road is causing outcry

Apr 10 2009 by Stuart Wilson

A POTHOLED road has been labelled a deathtrap by angry motorists.

The B7045 between Straiton and Kirkmichael is causing an outcry because of its awful state.

Half-baked council repair jobs have failed to work and road users say someone could be killed before long.

Straiton man Andy Benny has started a petition in the village shop to demand action.

He revealed: “It’s only a matter of time before there’s a serious accident on this road.In fact, I’d say someone will be killed before long – that’s how bad it is.

“You’re talking about a two mile road and you’re lucky to get a 200-metre stretch that isn’t badly potholed.

“The council guys come along and, fair play to them, work really hard to try and repair it.

“But they’re not doing a proper job because they just fill the holes with tar and bash it down with a shovel.

“It quickly gets dislodged and the road badly needs a proper re-tarring before it’s safe to use.”

The road, which is a busy route for 40-tonne log wagons, is whipping up a storm of controversy.

Straiton locals are backing the petition to put pressure on the council, but Mr Benny fears they’re being ignored.

He admitted: “The council war cry is that it all comes down to finance.

“They don’t have the money to repair these roads so we all have to suffer the consequences.

“The question is – do we wait until there is a serious accident until we act? You have to ask what price they’re putting on a life.”

The move comes after Warranty Direct declared Ayrshire’s roads the worst in the UK.

And Councillor Peter Convery admits the road is badly needing repair – but he blames the weather.

The environment spokesman claimed: “The wet, windy autumn of 2008 caused significant flooding in South Ayrshire, which saturated road foundations and the surrounding land.

“This was followed by prolonged periods of freezing weather. As a result of frost action on the already saturated road construction, potholes have appeared at an alarming level over the entire road network of South Ayrshire in both rural and urban areas.

“We are aware of the scale of the pothole problem and we are currently making it a priority to address it.

“Repair lines have already been issued for the B7045 route between Hogg’s Corner near Minishant to Straiton, and work is ongoing at present on this route.

“The B7045 is part of a designated timber route and is subjected to a high volume of timber traffic, which obviously has a detrimental effect on the condition of the road.”