By Claire McCormack

THE OWNERS of a garden centre near Kellas are complaining the B978 road closure has seen their takings plummet by 50% during their peak season.

Colin Cruickshank and Tony Gibbon of Evergreen Nursery and Garden Centre say the closure has meant customers are confused about how to reach their premises.

Sewer works being carried out near the village of Wellbank have forced the closure of the B978 Kellas Road from Baldovie Toll to the junction with Drumsturdy Road, on the outskirts of Dundee.

It is expected the road closure that began on Monday will be in place for around a month with the first phase from the junction at Baldovie Road to and including the junction of Drumsturdy Road.

The second phase of the work means the Kellas Road will be closed from the junction at Drumsturdy Road for 500 metres northwards.

Mr Cruickshank has spoke with the council’s roads department, who informed him drivers had been ignoring the speed limit when the temporary traffic lights were in place there and they were also jumping the lights.

The lights were set up for a few weeks before the road closure.

Dundee City Council said the road was closed based on a decision by police and the local authority, for reasons of safety.

Mr Cruickshank feels the lights should be reinstated with perhaps a police presence or mobile speed camera monitoring vehicles.

He has serious concerns for his business if the road is closed for four weeks.

He said yesterday, “Today has been the worst so far—we have only had three customers all day.

“This is actually our peak season. We take most money in May and June.

“The road closure has been devastating to our business. Our business has been down by at least 50%.

“The signage to get here isn’t particularly good either.”

Mr Cruickshank said it would be better if the diversion sign directed traffic to Drumgeith Road, up Berwick Drive and round by Burnside of Duntrune instead.

Mr Gibbon said, “They have a sign up at the moment saying the Kellas Road is closed written in marker pen and when I drove passed it I had to slow down to read it as it’s not clear.

“This could cause an accident.

“It says to follow a A92 diversion to Arbroath, which meant our delivery driver had to do a U-turn to go to Arbroath when he didn’t need to at all.”

Kevin McGhee of Appletree Clinic on Drumsturdy Road, is also angry about signs.

He feels the signs imply people need to head to Newbigging to reach the clinic, causing confusion.

“I’m very upset with this whole situation,” he said.

Councillor Frank Ellis said he is constantly reviewing the situation and pushing for the road to be opened with temporary traffic lights as soon as it is safe to do so.

“I’ve had several calls from residents in and around the area,” he said.

“Many are very unhappy with the diversion as the roads are narrow and can be dangerous.

“I don’t think anything can be done in terms of safety. It’s unfortunate, but I think there should be proper signage routing customers around the Evergreen Nursery and Murroes area.

“Safety has to be paramount. Temporary traffic lights and one lane operating would not work while they heavy plant vehicles are operating there unless they could perhaps make the traffic lights have a longer delay.

“If the heavy vehicles are not there then people could operate in a single file but it’s a bit like a battlefield there at the moment and for anyone trying to pass there it could be quite dangerous.”

Sub-contractors DJ Laing set up the signs and said last night they are trying to resolve the issue.

Vehicles are being diverted via Baldovie Road, Claypotts junction, A92 Arbroath Road, Monifieth to Ethiebeaton Road, B961 Drumsturdy Road, B961 Newbigging-Monikie-Crombie and B9128 Carnoustie-Forfar.

The owner of Cath Rennie’s Restaurant in Wellbank, Graham Wise, said this week the restaurant would be “very badly” affected by the road closure.