'Urgent' fix needed for Dunrod Road after second stretch deteriorates

The Telegraph revealed recently that the year-long closure of a section of Dunrod Road near Shielhill Farm had wreaked a massive financial toll on a number of local companies and had pushed them to the brink of collapse.

Now another section of the road, near its junction with Old Largs Road, has begun to crack and collapse, creating what has been described as an ‘emergency’ situation.

The route connects a number of businesses, including Ardgowan Fishery and Shielhill Farm, to the rest of Inverclyde.

It also provides locals with access to the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre, which Inverclyde Council has ploughed more than half-a-million-pounds of public money into improving.

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While council officials have put a temporary fix in place to address the issues on the second stretch, there are fears that any further deterioration could lead to its closure and spell ruin for the businesses that depend on it.

Robert Kirkpatrick, who owns Ardgowan Fishery, told the Telegraph that a fix for the road was long overdue.

He said: “The impact has been huge. I’ve got myself into a lot of debt and you can see an impact on my business with so few people coming up to visit us.

“It’s been two years since the road's been closed, that’s not reasonable in anyone’s view.

“This collapse has been happening in stages over the last two years and I’ve been reporting it. We had a meeting with a high-level council employee a few weeks ago and they said it would be fixed.

“Two years the road has been left for, it’s total neglect and that’s why it’s the way it is."

Councillors approved a £2m plan last August to address the landslip-hit section of the road near Shielhill, which would see a new road built into the hillside to remove the risk of further slippage.

But more than half-a-year on a detailed design for the solution is yet to be brought forward.

Councillor James Daisley, whose ward includes the damaged road, said that failing to take swift action to fix the route would not only jeopardise the businesses that rely on it, but also risk the council’s investment in the visitor centre.

He said: “There needs to be a permanent solution and there needs to be an urgency around it. I just don’t feel like it’s treated with urgency up here.

“Not only do we have the Greenock Cut Visitor’s Centre which has just had a huge of money spent refurbishing it, but there’s businesses here too.

“There is an ambitious plan in place for the other side of Dunrod Road and that’s really welcomed, but the big issue is it’s not happening quickly enough.

“That’s due to things outwith our control but given what’s now happened on the only road in and out, it’s an emergency and we have to get it fixed.”

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan said it was ‘very frustrating’ that the latest problem with the road had presented itself when Dunrod Road remained closed.

He said: “I am pleased that Inverclyde Council is making headway with regards to Dunrod, but if the Old Largs Road closes for any reason, Robert's business is in effect closed.

“As we know, it is already a struggle for him to get deliveries and any larger vehicles like coaches to get up to the visitor centre and the trout fishery.

"Urgent action is needed to shore up the road at this location.

“Full closure is not an option for obvious reasons."

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “The issues with these two sections are complex and we share people’s frustrations, but we are committed to finding long term solutions and have, in the meantime, put in place appropriate restrictions and measures to ensure public safety.

“This week, work has been taking place to create a temporary bypass on Dunrod Road at the junction with Old Largs Road near to The Cut visitor centre to assist with the passing of vehicles.

“Work is ongoing to develop a permanent solution and also to address flooding issue affecting this section.

“Almost £2 million has been set aside to address the issues affecting the other section of the road close to Shielhill Farm, which has been affected by landslip due to extreme weather and other associated factors.

“Officers are currently progressing on site investigations and site surveys prior to preparing detailed design.

“Both our Clyde Regional Park sites at Greenock Cut and Lunderston Bay are fantastic assets for the area and are popular with residents and visitors alike and that’s why we have invested more than £500,000 across both sites to improve existing facilities to enhance the visitor experience.

“We always welcome suggestions and opportunities to encourage even more people to discover what Inverclyde has to offer and talk up the many wonderful places to visit across all our towns and villages.”