Summit demands after roadworks on A701. . . AGAIN!

AN URGENT roadworks summit with Transport Scotland has been demanded after more disruptive works on a major Dumfries road. New drainage works on the A701 began this week – the third major set of works on the route in recent months. It was only last week that the road fully re-opened following emergency gas network repairs. And furious South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has written to senior officials at Transport Scotland demanding they meet with local businesses to discuss repeated failures to manage roadworks effectively along this vital route—branding the latest disruption “unacceptable and avoidable.” Mr Smyth yesterday said: “This is now beyond a joke. One set of roadworks ends, and before the cones are even packed away, another set begins – again with no proper warning to businesses or road users. “Local firms and residents have had enough of being treated as an afterthought. These are not one-off problems—they are systemic failures in how Transport Scotland and Amey are managing roadworks on what is a key corridor for Dumfries. “We’ve had multiple assurances from Amey about better engagement, better planning, and efforts to minimise disruption—but those promises have been broken. “Businesses found out about this week’s works when they saw lane closures being put in place, not from the people in charge. That’s simply not acceptable. “We need a proper summit with Transport Scotland bosses and affected businesses at the table, to finally get some answers and put a stop to this chaos.”