Business 'choked' by Eglinton road scheme

Safety concerns have also been raised over roadworks in the village with another local businessman branding the temporary driving regime confusing for elderly motorists and a generator of "several near misses."

In April the Sentinel reported how drivers were to be barred from turning right for the rest of the spring and summer on a number of roads around the village to facilitate dualling work on the A2 between Maydown and City of Derry Airport.

Cars travelling from Limavady along the Clooney Road are not allowed to turn right onto the McLean Road; cars travelling on the McLean Road are not allowed to turn right onto the Clooney Road; and cars travelling on the Coolafinney Road are not allowed to turn right onto the Clooney Road. Traffic is also prohibited travelling from Coolafinney Road to McLean Road and vice versa.

This is having a choking effect on local businesses, it's been claimed. Maxol petrol station at Broadbridge says it is now losing 10,000 a week in turnover as a result of the roadworks.

Keith Lapsley of Maxol told the Sentinel: "Basically, our main artery from Eglinton village has been cut off. You're no longer allowed to turn right from the Coolafinney Road to come into the garage.

"Our local customers are now understandably deciding to go on into town. Why would you go on a two mile detour to get to us?" he asked.

"There was no consultation on this at all," he said. "They just said the road would be closed and that was that. If there was some sign-posting maybe to inform our customers to use the Ballygudden Road to get onto the main road it would allow them pull into the garage.

"People are going to lose their jobs. Our turnover is down 10,000. It's been getting progressively worse since the start of April. It could be 11,000 next week."

Meanwhile, restaurateur, Donal Day, says trade at Decks Bar and Restaurant has been badly affected and turnover is down by about 25 per cent.

Have the roadworks hit business? "Very much so," he said. "The first I heard of it was in one of the local newspapers. It may have been the Sentinel. The system where you have 'left in and left out' is crazy. It's fine if you are coming into Decks from Derry but if you are coming from Eglinton or Limavady you have to go for two miles around the industrial estate.

"I'm down about 25 per cent on my turnover. My head set is on a four hour week and I've had to cut back on part-time staff. My high tea trade has been particularly badly hit."

Mr Day said he could see no reason why temporary traffic lights facilitating both left and right turns at the junctions could not be introduced. He also echoed Mr Lapsley's call for improved signage for the businesses being choked by the road and pointed to a safety issue.

"I have had regulars coming in - particularly elderly people - who didn't have a notion about the new arrangements and turned right anyway. There have been several near misses."

Foyle DUP councillor, William Hay said businesses around Campsie and Eglinton were suffering badly, adding: "The public are confused by the signage and trying to work out how to enter different areas. I would appeal to Roads Service to look to see if there's a better way of managing the traffic and improving signage. I know they have a job of work to do, but I'd ask them to see if they can resolve these problems that are hurting local businesses and residents."

A Roads Service spokesman said: "Roads Service in consultation with the contractors and PSNI decided in the interest of road safety some of the right turn movements at this location would be prohibited.

"All businesses in the Campsie Industrial estate were made aware of the new arrangments prior to implementation.

"The arrangements are being kept under continued review and are anticipated to be in place until the end of August.

"At the request of local businesses, some additional signage has been provided and further signage is due to be put in place.

"Where possible RS have and will continue to take measures to minimise the impact of the works on local businesses."