11/09/2026
DYSART ROAD CLOSURE - Updated response from Scottish Water, FAO our CUSTOMERS, FRIENDS & NEIGHBOURS.
We received this latest response, from Scottish Water in reply to our email of yesterday:-
11th September 2026.
Good morning,
I fully appreciate your disappointment regarding the delay to the project and the continued impact this is having on The Strathearn Hotel, your customers, and the wider community. We recognise that road closures of this nature can be frustrating, particularly when they remain in place longer than originally anticipated.
Unfortunately, as explained earlier during the excavation works, we encountered a significant number of uncharted underground services that were not identified during the planning stage nor did they appear on any GIS drawings. As a result, parts of the design required to be reviewed and amended before works could safely progress. While every effort is made during the planning process to identify potential constraints, unforeseen ground conditions and utility conflicts are an inherent risk with infrastructure projects of this nature.
Please be assured that we are not complacent about the delays. As advised additional resources have been introduced to the project in an effort to recover lost time and minimise any further impact on local residents and businesses. Our delivery team is actively reviewing the programme on an ongoing basis and will bring forward the reopening date if opportunities arise to do so safely.
With regard to working hours, all construction activities must be undertaken in accordance with the permissions, environmental constraints and traffic management requirements associated with the project. Whilst we appreciate your views on alternative working arrangements, any changes to working practices must balance programme efficiencies with the safety of our workforce, the public and nearby residents.
I also acknowledge the difficulties you have highlighted regarding access to the hotel, particularly for visitors unfamiliar with the area and those who may not use digital navigation tools. We will continue to review the effectiveness of the signage in place and discuss any further opportunities for improvement with our Traffic Management contractor.
Again, I would like to reiterate that I have not received any complaints directly to myself or via Scottish Water and nothing has been passed through from Fife Council. Any emails I do receive regarding any of my projects across Scotland are always responded to.
I appreciate that this response will not alleviate the disruption currently being experienced, however I hope it provides some context to the challenges encountered and the measures being taken to complete the works as quickly as possible.
Kind Regards,
Jennifer Renton
Customer Manager
ο¨: 07815 677 603
οͺ: [email protected]
Caledonia Water Alliance
1st Floor Buchanan Tower, Buchanan Business Park,
Cumbernauld Road, Stepps G33 6HZ
10th September 2026.
Good afternoon Jennifer,
Many thanks for your email.
Firstly, this delay is extremely disappointing and could have been avoided.
Having been in construction / contracting and running large new build / major refurbishment projects for blue chip clients, for 40 years, the delay does not surprise us.
We realise that the public sector, operates differently from the private sector, however, there is no excuse when such avoidable delays are having a negative impact on individuals home lives, employment and social lives.
From the pre-project planning stage, increased working hours should have been a priority, in order to reduce the duration of the road closure and overall project.
This project could and should have been a 7 working day programme, with evening working also included.
Working weekday office hours and finishing early on a Friday, is a disgrace, when a main road is completely closed.
You can be sure, no private enterprise would be allowed to operate in such a fashion.
We take issue with your comment about being able to access the hotel, with no problem, using Google Maps.
Many of our regular customers are of a generation, who do not use Google Maps or Satnav.
They use public transport, which has been cancelled due to the closure and if they are driving, they have real difficulty accessing the hotel.
Also, what you may consider to be clear signage, is certainly not clear, to people unfamiliar with the area.
You may not be receiving the level of complaints, you received previously as people are reluctantly, forced to accept the situation.
