Published: Wednesday, 21st July, 2010 4:52pm

Road To Ruin

GARAGE OWNER Alan Murray fears the A76 upgrade will force him to lay off staff.

A GARAGE owner says he has lost thousands of pounds worth of trade during the first seven days of Mauchline's 11-week-long roadworks.

Mauchline Service Station owner Alan Murray fears he may have to lay off seven members of staff and claims there is simply "no money coming in".

More than 10,000 vehicles usually pass through the village on a daily basis.

But sign posts outside Cumnock and Auchinleck state the A76 through

Mauchline is closed with drivers being redirected to Ayr or through Sorn - despite signs claiming the village is open for business.

Alan was left furious when roadworkers told him not to bother trying to access his filling station, claiming his business WAS NOT open.

Dad of two, Alan said: "They're telling customers the garage is closed and that it's quicker going to Kilmarnock for fuel. Drivers are coming in to tell us they'd heard we're shut.

"I've put posters round the village to let everyone know we are open for business. They're playing about with people's livelihoods. We've lost thousands of pounds already."

The second week of roadworks began on Monday July 19. The £1.6 million project is designed and managed by Amey and resurfaced by Barr Construction.

Alan added: "I don't know how long we will last if it's to go on 10 weeks. This is the only filling station in Mauchline. If we close there won't be any. I will lose out, my staff will lose out and the village will lose out. I don't know what we can do. It's a nightmare."

This week MSP Cathy Jamieson has sent a letter to the Scottish Government's Finance Secretary John Swinney pleading to help out businesses in Mauchline with temporary rates relief. She added: "We need to do everything we can to support our local businesses."

A spokesperson for Amey said: "The Business Liaison Officer who is located on site visits businesses on a daily basis to address any concerns they may have regarding the project. Additional signing has been erected to advise residents that Mauchline is open for business as usual during the works."

Meanwhile the situation has picked up for a New Cumnock garage after roadworks extended from 6 weeks to 20 were finally completed.

Lavinia McGarva of Afton Service Station said: "I'm glad our turn is by with. At least we had the workshop to subsidise us. You depend a lot on passing trade and the roadworks did an unbelievable amount of damage to us. I should have paid the lassies off. We've had the garage for 54 years. It was horrible to think we would see it run down. I'm just glad to see them away."

A site liaison officer is available at all times on 0781 799 9444 to address any access issues or concerns.