Representatives of SGN and Moray Council meet with Forres Area Business Association to address concerns about roadworks affecting trade

CONCERNED town centre business agents met with representatives of the local authority and a utility company to discuss lengthy roadworks that have affected trade.

Outgoing Forres Area Business Association (FABA) director Joanna Taylor and current director and Café 1496 owner Carrie Custodio discussed the issue with Moray Council traffic engineer Colin Matheson and Darren Bristow of SGN.

Ms Taylor said: “Carrie and I explained the concerns of local businesses regarding the disruption to commerce, customers and suppliers caused by the extent and duration of SGN’s works.”

Last April, SGN and Moray Council announced a £560,000 project to replace over two miles of metal gas piping with polyethylene versions in Forres over a 10 month period. SGN confirmed most of the work would involve inserting a new main inside the old one to reduce the need to dig lengthy trenches in the road.

A spokesperson said: “To minimise disruption, we’re working closely with Moray Council to plan traffic management and will be implementing a phased approach, some of which will overlap. We’ll be doing everything we can to limit disruption and to ensure the project remains on schedule, working extended hours or at weekends as required. We’ll ensure that temporary traffic lights will be manually controlled if necessary during peak periods.”

So far, phases of work have covered Strathcona Road, Mannachie Road and Allan Drive, Grantown Road, Bogton Road and Caroline Street, Croft Road, Sanquhar Road, St Catherine’s Road, St Leonard’s Road and Pilmuir Road West.

Phase four, scheduled to start in February, will last six weeks affecting 13-31 Croft Road, with a give and take system for motorists. Phase five(a), also give and take, started on November 13 between 47 Sanquhar Road and Woodside Drive is scheduled to last nine weeks. Phase six for six weeks from January is the second section of phase six in St Leonard’s Road - there will then be two-way temporary traffic lights in place between 21 St Leonard’s Road and Leanchoil Hospital. Give and take for motorists will also affect 1-13 Pilmuir Road West for six weeks from February during Phase seven. Finally, Phase eight that started in November, scheduled to last 14 weeks, affects Victoria Road between 7 Seaforth Place and the Street Ronans - with a one-way traffic system and a diversion in place on North Street between Victoria Road and Seaforth Place.

Temporary traffic lights and diversions have, at times, caused confusion and tailbacks. FABA voiced concerns about disruption to trade caused by the scale, timing and duration of the roadworks. They asked how such works are planned and what consideration is given to the impact on businesses in the granting of permissions.

Ms Taylor said: “Colin and Darren explained the complexity of the work, for example, the need to ensure gas pressure is maintained at all times. They assured us that, despite concerns to the contrary, there were no times when work was not taking place, rather it required multi-locational working. They also explained that the process before the work was approved involved considerable notification.”

Businesses that have suffered interruption can make a claim against SGN under The Gas (Street Works) (Compensation of Small Business) Regulations 1996.

“It would be better not to have significant business disruption rather than need to make a claim,” said Ms Taylor. “FABA hopes that the meeting will encourage this to be considered further in the planning of future works, and not just by SGN.

“We also hope that there will be more communication about the nature of the works, as we considered. Had the complexity of the work been explained, there might have been a greater level of acceptance of how the works were planned and completed.”

Mr Bristow confirmed SGN gave advance notice to local businesses and stakeholders.

He said: “We understand roadworks can be frustrating, however this project will ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply to homes and businesses in the area for many years to come.”