Concerns over A714 road closure

Jul 24 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

COUNTRY folk fear chaos when a stretch of road is closed for repair next week.

People living around Pinwherry and Pinmore are pleased the road will be re-surfaced.

But they fear South Ayrshire Council has botched up advance planning of the A714 project.

Community council secretary Claire Pirrie says it looks like ‘a total lack of consideration’.

She has checked with key road users, who seem not have been notified by the council.

These include Barr Quarries – currently running 150 to 200 journeys per day of windfarm-related traffic from Tormitchell to Barrhill.

Mrs Pirrie says: “One of the most worrying scenarios is that the quarry traffic could be diverted north to Girvan, south on the A77 and then east on the B734 through Colmonell – a road even less suited to such traffic than the A714.”

Neither Stagecoach nor King’s Buses, who operate a Newton Stewart to Girvan service, have been consulted.

And local residents have no idea what arrangements will be made for them, in terms of private car use, public transport, deliveries, visitors etc.

Mrs Pirrie said: “We have been told local access will be allowed but can't be guaranteed.

“So it appears that we in South Carrick are such an insignificant part of the voting population that the council doesn’t need to consult us. on such issues.”

A council spokesman said officials would address Mrs Pirrie’s concerns, and would do their best to minimise disruption.

He said the council hoped to have satisfactory arrangements in place in time for work starting.