By Bill Heaney
West Dunbartonshire Council’s participation in the widely publicised World Cycling Championships has gone down like a punctured tyre with residents and council taxpayers.
Comments on social media about how the events which will cost £ millions to stage will impact on Balloch on Loch Lomondside in particular started off scathingly and became steadily worse.
Mary Fran Robertson said: “I hope WDC cut the grass and get the place looking back to being a tourist attraction, and not a slum town!”
That was mild compared to this comment from Ronnie Brown: “WDC/Glasgow City Council and any other council that has cycling events over the next 10 days do not give a monkey’s about how it affects their residents and council taxpayers.
“It is all about how much they can each get out of the pot no matter the financial outlay. They don’t care if it causes you inconvenience.
“In Glasgow they are even stopping buses going into the city centre so people going to and from work could be walking up to 4 miles there and back.”
Balloch woman Margaret Hastings told Labour group leader Martin Rooney that simply repeating what had been in an eleventh hour letter about the event was “not helpful and shows disrespect for those most impacted.”
She asked: “Where are folks to park their cars outside the area? What about access for the many WDC care visits in Craiglomond / Balloch Road which will be no go areas on Saturday and Sunday.
“The event is restricting parishioners’ freedom to attend church services at St Kessog’s and Lomond Parish Church on Sunday.
“The age profile of parishioners means that many can’t use active travel.
“The lack of engagement with residents and community council has been appalling. The communications lack clarity.”
Mrs Hastings was so angry that she took her complaints to the event organisers UCI after Cllr Rooney washed his hands of responsibility for staging it.
Later she added: “UCI came back to me saying only the council can answer my questions. I knew it would just be pass the buck.”
Cllr Martin Rooney, Cllr David McBride and cycling in Dumbarton and Loch Lomondside.
Even the farmers up at Gartocharn were annoyed. Joy Doogan wrote: “Farmers market Gartocharn will be affected … loss of earnings!”
There was the occasional – very occasional – word of support for the event.
Sharon McCandless said: “I think it’s amazing that it’s coming to Balloch. Putting us on the world map again. It’s only a few hours and two days. I’m furious I’m away and will miss it all.”
However, there were more questions about arrangements for residents and disabled people.
One disabled woman asked politely: “Can I ask what arrangements have been made for residents with disabilities/vulnerabilities living in the affected housing estates?
“We’ve been told that our area will be landlocked and to park off estate if you need your vehicle, but this is not an option for me or many others with disabilities.
“What provisions are being made for those who have carers visiting them at home at points during the day? I would be grateful for a response as this seems to be sadly overlooked.”
Amanda Graham at the Council tried desperately to re-assure this woman and hundreds of others, but it was to no avail.
She wrote: “All roads impacted by the closure will be accessible to pedestrians, including those who require access to provide care.
“Scheduled visits from HSCP carers will be delivered throughout, and while some delays may be experienced, additional travel time will be factored in when attending at these locations to ensure service is maintained between Friday 11 August and Sunday 13 August.
“Emergency Services access will be maintained throughout and residents are asked to contact these services as normal if required.
“We will also communicate with all service users who may be affected to provide assurance that although they may well experience some delays, services will be delivered as quickly as possible and will be maintained.
“Residents with additional accessibility needs should contact the event organisers at info@thetour.co.uk to discuss alternative arrangements during closures”
Ann Prior said she thought that these questions should be put directly to councillors.
She wrote: “Definitely. It’s the lack of communication and consideration from all involved that gets me.
“Yes, it’s just a weekend, but that’s a long time to be stuck at home without any support, especially if you have mobility issues.”
She warned: “I think a lot of them [participants] are practising on cycle path too at some speed only matter of time until there is an accident there.”
Andy Hodgson had obviously heard nothing about the event. He asked: “A cycling event? On WDC roads? Have they seen the state of the potholes?
“There would need to be a BMX track in WDC. They fixed the potholes that are on the route only, and left all the rest. I saw the same happening in Glasgow yesterday. Hence the haste to fill them in. Not for residents – [but] for the cycling.”
Eventually, Labour group leader Martin Rooney arrived on site with some details: “Sunday 13 August – 8am – approximately 5pm. Balloch Road, from Luss Road/Old Luss Road up to Carrochan Road, will be closed from 8am until 5pm at the latest, with no non-race related traffic permitted to access this section of the route or adjoining roads.
“Static road closure barriers will be in place, supported by traffic management operatives and Police Scotland. Alternative access routes and diversions will be in place in order to maintain local access as much as possible.
“Once the event has started and left the area work will be undertaken to remove road closures as soon as possible, and this is likely to be well in advance of 5pm.
“Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. If any resident requires use of their vehicle during the times of the road closure, they should park out with planned closures before access is restricted.
“To allow for required Police Scotland safety control measures closures will also be in place at: Tullichewan Road from its junction with A811 Lomond Road; Dalvait Road from its junction with Dalvait Gardens and Carrochan Road from its junction with Carrochan Gardens.”
It was then that Margaret Hastings accused Cllr Rooney of showing disrespect for the residents, the detail of which is reported at the intro to this report.
Cllr Rooney, said testily: “This not a council event the event organiser is UCI Cycling World Championships.
Friday 11 August – Sunday 13 August
Balloch Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from 9am on Friday 11 August to 5pm on Sunday 13 August. Vehicle access to Fisherwood Road and the Tullie Inn will also be limited at points during this period.
However, this did not get him off the hook. The disabled woman who had complained earlier challenged him: “I understand this, but was WDC not involved in any discussion about bringing the event here?
“No one seems to have consulted WDC residents or advocated for those who will be made more vulnerable by these closures.
“I’m not saying the event shouldn’t be here, I’m just asking if there have been any arrangements put into place for WDC residents with disabilities so they are not put at risk.”
Michael Walker asked: “[It will be] interesting to see how much money this costing the cash strapped councils.”
And Luke Pringle added: “Nobody asked for this, how much is this costing the council that can’t even maintain its highways?”
Caroline Crossan added: “Scottish government funded UCI £36 million while Glasgow city council coughed up £16 million. That’s a bit of a sickener. And Glasgow’s mismanagement of waste disposal has resulted in ‘rats the size of cats’, what a shambles.”
Janice Erskine asked a short but extremely important question which she felt had not addressed by the Council. What will happen to carers out driving to see clients at this time?
She was told: “All the roads impacted by the closure will be accessible to pedestrians, including those who require access to provide care.
“Scheduled visits from HSCP carers will be delivered throughout, and while some delays may be experienced, additional travel time will be factored in when attending at these locations to ensure service is maintained between Friday 11 August and Sunday 13 August.
“Emergency Services access will be maintained throughout and residents are asked to contact these services as normal if required.
“We will also communicate with all service users who may be affected to provide assurance that although they may well experience some delays, services will be delivered as quickly as possible and will be maintained.”
Chris Sifleet was annoyed: “As usual you announce these closures at the last minute. Thank you for causing major issues for travelling to my charity swim.”
As was Karen McCarthy who lamented: “Oh brilliant!! Another gridlocked weekend in The Shire.”
Laura Lyon said: “It’s a bloody nightmare, majority of city centre cut off , difficult to access anywhere.”
Jason Graham asked: “Is it possible to have a map with the actual closures marked on it. Please.”
Martin Rooney replied, but there was no map forthcoming:
“Saturday 12 August and Sunday 13 August – rolling closures. There will be rolling road closures along the route on both event days, which will require minor restrictions on Drymen Road/A811. Police Scotland outriders will work in advance of the riders to clear their route and temporarily close adjacent roads for 20-30 minutes ahead of when riders pass through. As the last of the riders and support vehicles pass, roads will reopen and traffic will return to normal. The rolling closures are expected to be in place from 11:30am – 11:50am on Saturday 12 August and 12:00pm – 12:20pm on Sunday 13 August. If any resident requires use of their vehicle during the times of the rolling road closure, they should park out with planned closures before access is restricted.”
However, the outpouring of dismay and disappointment amongst residents was never ending.
Ewan Williamson wrote: “Martin Rooney all of the info you have posted was posted directly by WDC and yet there’s still no answer to earlier questions about access for carers/families to vulnerable and disabled clients and family. No One has addressed this in any way shape or form.”
Disabled resident Stephanie wrote: “Ewan Williamson thank you for posting this. I haven’t received a response at all. Sadly, it will be “it’s just 2 days” mentality and to grin and bear it, or ignore it and it’ll go away. As always, it’s the most vulnerable and their families and carers who end up drawing the short straw because often they don’t shout the loudest.”
Ewan Williamson said: “It was the same nonsense they posted for those that live on or off Cardross Road during the road resurfacing. No help whatsoever!”
Christine Adam signed off with this comment: “Martin Rooney, I live in Dalvait Road and we have received notification of road closures etc.
“I would assume that this event will receive lots of media coverage and I wondered if Balloch and the surrounding area will be tidied up. By that I mean grass cutting.”
Michael Walker told Ms Adams she was lucky to have received any notification at all – “You are lucky to have received notification, I’m still waiting for some form of contact from the organisers about the closures.”
Christine Graham chipped in: “If you’re a resident in Riverside View opposite Balloch House Hotel – are you able to access the car park – or are we supposed to try and find a space somewhere else?”
Derek Peden said this was a “missed opportunity to save a lot of pain and inconvenience by starting [the event] in Balloch Park”.
If any resident requires use of their vehicle during the times of the road closure, they should park out with planned closures before access is restricted.
To allow for required Police Scotland safety control measures closures will also be in place at:
Tullichewan Road from its junction with A811 Lomond Road
Dalvait Road from its junction with Dalvait Gardens
Carrochan Road from its junction with Carrochan Gardens
Karen McCarthy: “Martin Rooney who allowed the event to happen? Surely licences need to be applied for? WDC make you apply for a licence for using a skip, so surely WDC had some input.”
West Dunbartonshire Council refuse to speak to The Democrat about the public reaction to their preparations for this major event. They have banned us for asking too many questions and refuse to accept our award winning editor as a bona fide journalist.