Traders' fury over road closure

Dec 5 2008 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

AN angry businessman claims roadworks on one of Paisley’s busiest thoroughfares have cost his company a THIRD of its usual takings.

Jim Sinclair, manager of wholesale ironmongers Fyfe and McGrouther, said the closure of Greenhill Road in Paisley for resurfacing has caused havoc for his business and put many customers off.

And he has hit out at Renfrewshire Council for closing the road and not giving traders enough notice.

Mr Sinclair said: “The first I knew of this was when I saw a temporary sign being put up to say Greenhill Road would be closed for three weeks.

“Since then, our customers haven’t been able to get to us. There are diversions in place and people are just giving up.

“There is a sign saying that the road is closed, then further down there’s another sign saying there is access to businesses only – but you have to keep driving to see that sign or else you would only pay attention to the first one.

“I know that some customers have just given up and gone elsewhere.

“Is the council trying to wreck our businesses? We’ve only been here for two years, so we are still trying to get established.

“I phoned the council to find out how long it would be going on for but no-one phoned me back.”

The roadworks have caused traffic chaos, with queues stretching back along Greenock Road.

However, council chiefs have defended their actions and stressed they have been pulling out all th stops to re-open the road before the planned three-week closure period has passed.

A council spokesman said: “The road closure was advertised to motorists and businesses in a public notice.

“Inevitably, there is some disruption not only to traffic but also to some businesses. However, we are doing everything we can to minimise that.

“The majority of the essential repair and preparatory work was done in a week.”

The spokesman added that, weather permitting, partial re-opening of the road was taking place at peak times this week.