MORE effort to coordinate roadworks in Cowdenbeath has been called for after councillors highlighted ongoing frustration at the amount of disruption taking place in the town.
Local councillor Bailey-Lee Robb said people have “had enough” with the amount of traffic lights and jams they are regularly having to endure.
“People are fed up and frustrated,” he said at a meeting of the Cowdenbeath Area Committee. “People in Cowdenbeath, at the north side, have been pummelled for well over a year now.
“They have got stories from right across the Cowdenbeath area of roadworks being set up for long periods. – three/four way traffic lights where no work is being done, no-one is around, constant disruption to communities and businesses.
“Surely there is a better way for services to try and condense work? Surely there is something they can do policy wise to try and coordinate roadworks and disruption for people. People have had enough.
“Having experienced 15 minutes of roadworks to get here (to Wednesday’s meeting at Lochore Meadows) I have had enough as well.”
Committee convener, Councillor Alex Campbell, described the situation as “extremely frustrating”.
He continued: “My inbox has been plagued over the last ten days regarding the works at the north end.
“I drove past yesterday because I had numerous people contact me regarding the situation. The place was back to the roundabout at Brunton House yesterday which is unacceptable and more so when you come up to the site and no work is going on whatsoever. None whatsoever. That is not acceptable.
“The people in Cowdenbeath and businesses, they are obviously cheesed off with the amount of roadworks in Cowdenbeath. Can we not try and get some more joined up approach whereby one hole is dug in the ground fixes one or two jobs?”
Councillor Darren Watt said a lot of businesses were being impacted.
“It is something we really need to address. Overall there needs to be accountability,” he added. “There definitely neds to be an improvement in the coordination.
“Communities will understand the need for works but what we don’t understand and cannot understand is quite often temporary lights that sit there prior to the works beginning and still sitting there long after.
“It is the delay and inconvenience that really riles people up.”
Roads chief John Mitchell said schemes such as utility services needing access to the road was coordinated through the Scottish Roadworks Commissioner.
“There is a process that is done nationally. It is not something we are in control of,” he said. “We look to try and coordinate that and try and do that as best we can.
“What we are looking to do is ask them to ensure that they have consulted with the local community and there is a programme of advanced planning and communication to make sure everyone been properly consulted.”
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