Jed chaos set to continue

A LOCAL WRITES

I used to think Weensland Road in Hawick was the 'most dug up thoroughfare' in the Scottish Borders. And sure enough they're at it again just now with traffic lights, diggers and gangs of workmen ensuring you'll be held up on your way to and from Morrisons supermarket. Other food outlets are available!

The good folks of Weensland must be pig sick of their road being howked up, then relaid by different utilities over the past 20 or 30 years. Is there no end to their misery? Is there no co-ordinated plan to have all of the digging done at one fell swoop, then allow traffic to flow freely without hindrance. Too logical, I suppose

Mind you when it comes to travel disruption Jedburgh and its approaches can now easily match the Hawick suburbs when it comes to moaned about diversions, holes in the road and roped off crumbling buildings.

The 'temporary' one-way system on Jed High Street has been with us for years as those in local government continue to discuss how to rid one of the Borders' top tourist towns of the monstrosity of an edifice which is said to be rotten to the core but continues to dominate and blight our once attractive Market Square.

There should have been a swift solution at the very beginning when the property was first condemned as unsafe. Surely a few bulldozers could have flattened the would-be ruin overnight, leaving the way clear for some form of practical redevelopment project. Instead we are well into yet another summer with ugly scaffolding and hoardings greeting our visitors. What a load of bollards!

At the other end of the main drag the No Entry signs prevent downtown citizens from getting to the Co-op without a detour via Queen Street and Smith's Wynd. It's difficult to fathom why this lower stretch of High Street had to be part of the one-way system as allowing two-way traffic to travel as far as the former Royal Bank building would have created a much more sensible and convenient arrangement.

But as if that wasn't enough there's been irksome traffic lights on Bongate/A68, the main approach road from the north, for months as pavements were renewed at a snail's pace. Talk about traffic chaos; for weeks Jethart was a virtual no-go area with locals believing they were living in a war zone, or something akin to it.

Just last week the last set of lights were removed from the vicinity of the woollen mills at the entrance to town. Business proprietors and shoppers alike must have breathed a huge sigh of relief. If only that eyesore glowering down on the burgh's only Zebra crossing could be demolished everything would be almost back to normal for the first time in yonks.

But hang on a minute...have you heard the latest? A new list of road closures, diversions and temporary traffic lights are upon us: it's just been published this week, ensuring many more weeks of turmoil and frustration for long-suffering motorists and bus drivers.

The details are contained in a letter from Scottish Gas Networks (SGN) to its Jedburgh customers.

According to SGN: "I’m writing to let you know as part of the new Jedburgh School Campus project, and to meet the increased demand on our gas network, we’ll shortly begin work in the Jedburgh area.

"This essential work will ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply and help us keep the gas flowing safely and reliably for all our customers well into the future. Following discussions with Scottish Borders Council our project will start on Monday 22 July 2019 and last approximately eight weeks.

"To ensure our engineers can carry out their work safely, parking will be suspended from outside number 1 to 37 Bongate. The bus stops outside number 22 and 23 will be also closed for the duration of our works. Forthill Terrace will be closed in both directions for the full duration of the project. Diversions will be in place via Waterside Road, Priors Road, Stonehill Place and Forthill Avenue.

"We’ll also need to fully close Bridge Street from Monday 12 August for five weeks, for everyone’s safety. Diversions will be in place via Bridge Street, High Street, Bongate, Bongate Gardens and Old Bongate.

"In addition to the road closures, three-way temporary traffic lights will be in place on the A68, Waterside Road for six weeks. The lights will be manually controlled during peak times to minimise disruption. We’ve worked closely with the local authorities in planning our project and are aware this is a busy area. We always aim to minimise disruption an we’ll make every effort to ensure our works are completed as soon as possible".

Once that lot's up and functioning negotiating Weensland Road will be a doddle!

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