A Scottish businessman has hit out at a rogue diversion sign which has reportedly caused "chaos" and sent hundreds of motorists in an endless loop around the town.
Undertaker Mark Jardine says the dodgy council diversion sign has caused him to be late for three funeral services in one week. For the three days the sign was in place, motorists were supposedly going round and round in circles instead of following an alternative route.
After Dumfries and Galloway Council were flooded with calls and emails from disgruntled locals, the sign was changed by their road department, who Mark claims were numb to several complaints made earlier in the week.
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As the Record reports, the cause of the problem was a misleading sign put up to warn motorists of demolition work underway in English Street of the Treasure Cave building.
Mark said: "It was utterly insane. I was late for three funeral services this week due to the chaos, while on Tuesday night, I was marooned in my office in Three Crowns Court as the whole town centre was grid-locked and I missed my evening appointment.
"A sign was placed near Loreburn Police Station informing that Newall Terrace (left) is the route for buses, and straight ahead for 'all other routes'.
"Needless to say, many hundreds of cars politely followed the instruction - straight towards the demolition - and, of course, found themselves diverted into Munches Street and back in a never-ending merry-go-round.
"Some drivers realised the error of their ways and dived down at speed to Three Crowns Court, to be met by those who have been forced round Munches Street coming up Three Crowns Court as they find Queensberry Street is blocked.
"It meant that cars and vans were roaring up and down Three Crowns Court both ways."
Mark said that "utter chaos" unfolded in the town centre as a result of the sign and insists the solution was to place a road closed sign (for Loreburn Street) on Academy Street (except for access to home, businesses, buses and the Loreburn Street car park) - which is what happened on Wednesday.
Mark continued: "And to be frank, even a primary school pupil would have worked that out from the start. With a little common sense and forward planning, this problem could have been completely avoided."
Mark said the worst time was 5pm each evening with cars turning around on each other and some disregarding existing flow. He also feared emergency vehicles could get stuck in the grid-lock.
He said: "At 5pm each evening we had people effectively marooned in their offices, having been there from 8am in the morning, and have drivers trapped on Queensberry Street, unable to move due to the pressure of traffic on the main arteries.
"And by Wednesday, we had fed-up drivers beyond the diversion sign at the top of Munches Street get stuck at the crane, so they reversed back and met traffic coming up Queen Street. Then they drove the wrong way back along Loreburn Street to Munches Street. I saw five cars do this in five minutes but it was happening all the time.
"It really was the perfect storm of stupidity that could have resulted in a tragedy."
A council spokesman said: "Any road closures/re-openings are subject to Westlakes Demolition's timescales for the work and our officers are working closely with the contractor to ensure we take the appropriate measures at the right time."
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