The launch of a national road worker training programme took place yesterday at East Ayrshire Council, marking a whole new approach to the training process and helping councils to reduce costs.

The Scottish Roads Training Programme aims to benefit roads authorities across Scotland by re-engineering how road operatives are qualified and how training programmes are procured.

At least 15 of Scotland’s 33 roads authorities (including Transport Scotland) are expected to sign up to the programme.

The system will use intelligent management systems to simplify and improve the delivery of local training and also develop relevant Scottish qualifications.

Councils will be able to use the programme as a single booking system for all training providers whether through an external procurement route or in-house.

This means that roads authorities can collaborate on joint external procurement or share resources for in-house training to maximise efficiency.

The system is also designed to provide a register of road workers’ existing and future training needs.

Kevin Braidwood, Acting Head of Ayrshire Roads Alliance, said: “We were delighted to host the launch event and to be able to provide the project with senior officer support as it gets off the ground. The Council’s training database is also being used as a template that will be expanded for the national programme, so we’re excited to see how the programme progresses.”

As part of its ongoing programme to improve the condition of the road network, the Ayrshire Roads Alliance will be carrying out essential road resurfacing works on the A71 Newmilns Road.

To carry out these works safely and efficiently and to protect the roads operatives and the travelling public, we will need to close Main Street Newmilns with additional Traffic Management measures.

The restrictions, timescales and affected areas are as follows;

Section 1 – A71 Main Street (ROAD CLOSURE)

This section will be closed on Saturday 8th February until Friday 14^th February 2020, daily from 7am until 6pm with a small diversion in place for local residents only. Signs will be put in place to inform the public that businesses will be open as usual.

Section 2 – A71 Isles Street/Darvel Road (CONVOY WORKING)

Works on Isles Street and Darvel Road sections will be carried out from Friday 14^th February until Friday 28th February 2020 from 7am until 6pm each day.

A Signed Diversion Route for the above road closure on Main Street, Newmilns will be via A76 to Cumnock, A70 to Muirkirk, B743 to Strathaven, A71 to Newmilns and vice versa.

It is hoped that the resurfacing work will be completed within the timescales outlined, however the work is weather dependent and any unforeseen difficulties could result in a delay.

The Ayrshire Roads Alliance apologises for any inconvenience caused during these essential works.

In order to allow Scottish Gas Network (SGN) to carry out gas mains replacement works Ayrshire Roads Alliance are imposing Temporary Road Closures and Waiting Restrictions on the following roads;

Temporary Road Closures – Lugar Place and Spey Road – over their entire lengths.

Temporary Prohibition of Waiting and Loading – Annick Place, Clyde Place, Deveron Road, Doon Place, Earl Road, Earn Road, Esk Road, Leven Road, Lochlea Avenue, Lugar Place, Mossgiel Avenue, Ness Place, North Drive, Solway Place, Spey Road, Tay Road, Teviot Place, West Crescent – all on both sides and over their entire lengths.

The works programme will commence on 1st July 2019 and is anticipated to be completed by 31st March 2020.

Works will be carried out over three phases to help minimise disruption.

Phase one – approximately 18 weeks

On Monday 1st July,  work will start in Spey Road and Lugar Place. To ensure everyone’s safety, from 8 July, Lugar Place will be closed with residential and emergency service access only.  During this phase work will also be carried out in:

• Ness Place
• Annick Place
• Clyde Place
• Tay Road
• Leven Road

On Monday 22 July, other SGN teams will also start work in Deveron Road at its junction with Lochay Place. During this phase, work will also be carried out in:

• Kilmory Place
• Esk Road
• Doon Place
• Ruthven Place

To ensure everyone’s safety, SGN may have to install temporary two or three-way temporary traffic lights in Deveron Road.

Phase two – approximately 8 weeks

From Monday 12^th August SGN will continue to work in Deveron Road. During this phase they will also be working in:

• Teviot Place
• North Drive
• Earn Road

Phase three – approximately 8 weeks

On Monday 9 September, SGN will begin working in Central Avenue at Merrick Ave.   During this phase, they will also be working in:

• Lochlea Avenue
• West Crescent
• Mossgiel Avenue

Local diversion routes will be signed when required depending on the location of the works.

Access for the emergency services, pedestrians and local access to properties and those roads which are cul-de-sacs will be maintained whenever possible.

SGN will post regular updates throughout the works, you can find these on their website