ANGRY residents living beside a rural Dalry development are fed up with the chaos and congestion caused by massive lorries using single-track roads and crossing bridges that might not be able to sustain their weight.

The site, situated to the North East of Auchenskeith Farm and known as Dove Hill, is undergoing development works for two new wind turbines.

Work began two weeks ago to create an access road to the site, but angry residents have accused the developer of going against planning conditions and risking the safety of other road users.

Mick McGurran, who lives beside the site, said: “They’re against the conditions of planning. There are two seven-and-a-half tonne bridges and lorries of about 40 or 45 tonnes go over them. There’s a set road that they have to use according to the planning permission and they’re not using it.

“As far as I’m concerned, It’s dangerous. They are crossing these bridges, and my neighbours – quite rightly – are concerned that they weaken the bridges and they fail when some of us are on them later

“This influx of trucks arrives from three different directions, with one group of four crossing a very old bridge that is already cracked and has been subject to regular inspections for some time.

“They also dump the lorry loads onto the single-track road. This means that my neighbour and I don’t have access to a fire engine. It’s ridiculous. I’ve flagged this up to planning and nobody’s doing anything about it. We should not be without fire cover. If there’s an emergency and these jokers block the road, then we’ve had it. It shouldn’t be happening. 

“There’s mud all over the road and it’s dangerous. Horses, cycles, motorbikes and joggers use that road.

“Part of their planning process was to supply information about how they were going to get the turbines to the site. That involved encroaching on and digging up people’s land.

“They knew that no-one was going to give them permission for that so they’ve just gone ahead and done it. It definitely is a nightmare.”

Mick added that he and his neighbours also have concerns about the congestion and potential road damage caused by the large work vehicles. 

He said: The roads are not made for big trucks like that, they were made for horses and carts. It’s causing chaos and it’s a nightmare for everyone involved. When you’re on a wee tiny road like the ones round here and these big lorries are trying to get through, it’s no use.

“One Friday night there were seven vehicles in close succession in the space of about two hours.
It’s a whole day of ‘what are you going to meet at the next corner?’.

“One young lad had to wait 50 minutes in his car for a lorry to reverse so he could get past. They were trying to tell him to drive his wee Corsa over the grass at the side but he would have sunk like a stone. 

“There’s a single-track road and they’re trying to manoeuvre a seven-axle crane along it. There’s no chance in hell of that. . There’s no chance in hell of that. If you met that in a wee car on a single-track road, you’d be terrified.

“These lorries are destroying the road, which is in a bad way to start with. I can see new potholes appearing every day. You can visibly see damage to the roads now.

“We’ve had a meeting with the police about it all and they’re going to get on to their traffic department.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said that planning permission was granted, subject to conditions, on July 9, 2013, for the erection of two wind turbines at the site, adding: “All of the relevant planning conditions were discharged, including information on the route for the delivery of the wind turbines, and the development commenced on July 8, 2016.

“The developers have the appropriate planning permission to start the development. However, prior to the delivery of the turbines, the developer must carry out works to amend a road junction to the east, which has yet not been done.

“Discussions between the developer and the council’s Roads Department are on-going regarding the required widening of the junction as all deliveries to the site must be made from the easterly direction.

“A complaint was received by Planning Services that a delivery had been made to the site from the west and the complainant was advised that this represented a breach of planning control.

“Planning officers have visited the site and contacted the developer and their contractors, who have been advised to ensure all deliveries to the site are made in the approved manner.”

Sergeant Joe Murdoch from Kilbirnie Police office added: “Police Scotland is aware of community concerns and officers have engaged with the developer and contractors and advice has been given.

“Officers will be giving the area extra attention over the coming weeks.”