Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has met with senior officials at Transport Scotland and Transerv to raise a variety of issues highlighted by local businesses regarding the A78 and A8 road infrastructure into and throughout Inverclyde.

The meeting, which was arranged in coordination with Stuart McMillan MSP, was organised in response to the growing dissent amongst ICC members regarding the poor condition and issues which are creating a negative impact on the local economy and repopulation efforts.

ICC Director and ARC Fleet Services Managing Director, Ian Moffat, represented the Chamber as representatives toured Inverclyde by car in a bid to highlight current challenges.

The tour highlighted the number of traffic lights and signal sequences on the approach from Port Glasgow to the Bull Ring roundabout in Greenock, with the additional delays it often takes to cover these three miles and the impact this is having on attracting new business investment into the area and stagnating productivity.

ICC also raised concerns regarding the rise in air pollution as a result with the key objective to review the phasing and sequencing of the traffic lights at the run-up to and at Pottery Street and James Watt Marina junctions during peak times.

Other areas highlighted by ICC included:

• The approach and generally poor road condition at Newark roundabout;
• The overgrown foliage on Newark roundabout which is severely limiting the vision of cars headed towards Clune Brae Road;
• The notorious flood site of East Hamilton Street, and its impact and overall disruption to the local economy and residents;
• Overloading of minor routes through built-up areas, where drivers try to find alternative routes, creating gridlock during peak times;
• The short notice for road works and utility works being advised with 14 days’ notice, with a request for this to be extended to 60 days to enable better logistical planning;
• Roadworks that can be discriminating against bus users and for those that have no choice in how they travel; and
• Winter gritting at the Valley Park junction in Inverkip, where tailbacks and accidents are common with fears raised that the road is not gritted as regularly as it could be.

The meeting concluded with all parties agreeing to continue to speak regularly and share further concerns as and when they arise.

ICC President, Gavin McDonagh said:

“It is vital that Inverclyde Chamber continues to raise the issues and seek the necessary improvements that our members and the business community are demanding.

“While it is important to attract new businesses to Inverclyde, it is just as vital to listen and support those that are already here and suffering due to the current challenges around the road infrastructure.

“We’d like to thank Stuart McMillan MSP and his office for their support in brokering the meeting with Transport Scotland and look forward to seeing positive improvements.

Stuart McMillan MSP said:

“This was a positive step forward for all parties and I was delighted to be able to support both Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce and Transport Scotland in bringing forward the dialogue and relationship.

“I’m confident that we will start to see improvements to the points highlighted in the coming months that will have the desired effects for both businesses and residents in Inverclyde.”