Road Closure Causes Disruption in Sanquhar
A six-week closure of the main road through the south of Scotland town of Sanquhar, accompanied by an official 50-mile (80km) diversion, has led to significant disruption, according to local traders.
The A76 was closed on Monday to facilitate essential work on the stonework of the Tolbooth Museum, a category A-listed building adjacent to the road. This closure is expected to last until 10 July.
Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) explained that the road narrows next to the Tolbooth, necessitating a full closure for some of the repair work. Prior to the full closure, traffic was managed by temporary lights for two weeks.
The A76 serves as a main link between Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire. While local access will be maintained throughout the closure, the official diversion route for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) directs southbound traffic off at Cumnock on the A70, then via the B7078 and A702 to Thornhill, with the reverse applying for northbound vehicles.
Impact on Local Businesses
Traders have described the situation as "absolute chaos" and a "shambles," reporting a sharp decline in trade and difficulties for lorries navigating the town.
Gareth Polland, owner of convenience shop The Store, expressed serious concerns about the closure's effects.
"The community - both the public and business owners - highlighted a lot of fervently-held concerns right at the start before this ever kicked off," he said.
"First and foremost, for us, there is no parking any longer outside of our business which means footfall and trade has been absolutely decimated.
Secondly, just yesterday (Monday), there were three wide-load HGVs that were stopped in Sanquhar unable to turn around and had to reverse up the street."
He added, "It is causing absolute chaos - footfall in the town is down, passing trade in terms of commuters is down and it is day one - we have got six weeks of this."
"It genuinely feels like the council - they just don't care, they genuinely don't care and there is no accountability.
It doesn't matter how businesses or individual lives are impacted, the council gets their money regardless and carries on doing what they will regardless."
Polland also criticized the timing of the work, noting it coincides with the World Cup period, which could have been an opportunity to increase turnover.
"People just aren't coming up to the street because it is such a shambles," he said.
Charles Brown, who operates the local newsagents, shared similar concerns.
"The street has been very quiet over the last two days, we've witnessed a couple of altercations on the road between drivers jumping the lights," he said.
"My takings are down about £200 over the last two days, the local petrol station's takings are down 30% - so not good at all."
Council Response and Project Details
Dumfries and Galloway Council has established a dedicated webpage to provide information about the works. The council acknowledged traders' concerns and emphasized the importance of the A76 as a transport link.
The council stated that the repairs to the Tolbooth were essential to address significant stonework defects and that the project was carefully planned to minimize disruption. Local access will be maintained throughout the duration of the work.
DGC also assured that the project would be completed well in advance of key local events scheduled for later in the summer.
