A BUSINESS owner in Argyll and Bute has launched a petition calling for a permanent solution to the A83 problems.

Jane Ireland, who runs Tarbet’s Slanj Loch Lomond restaurant, set up the petition on Sunday proposing a bypass tunnel on the route to alleviate access issues and it has since gained more than 1,800 signatures.

The road was closed for almost a week after heavy rainfall caused landslips which also forced the closure of the Old Military Road diversion. Around 3,000 tonnes of debris were estimated to have reached catch-fences positioned on the hillside.

Mrs Ireland has grown frustrated at the lack of action to deal with the problem and says it is now costing her business important income.

She said: “Due to the continued closure our business was forced to temporarily close last weekend as there was little or no traffic going through Tarbet or Arrochar.

“The financial implications forced on all businesses in the area are huge, not to mention the impact on individuals and families.

“My partner had a GP appointment in Arrochar and we live in Cairndow. This would have meant a three-hour journey in total just to reach the GP.

“We understand the importance of safety for the road and the difficult conditions BEAR have been forced to work in. However, millions have been wasted on this project with no positive outcome. This road is the gateway to Argyll.”

The petition, to Argyll and Bute MSP Michael Russell, has proven popular among many who are keen to see a safe and regular passage along the A83 via a tunnel, in a similar system to Scandinavian countries.

However, some have argued this may not be the most effective solution, while praising the efforts of the road workers. But Mrs Ireland is convinced that something must be done.

She added: “They can put men on the moon but they can’t keep the A83 open.

“We are just putting a sticky plaster on a broken leg now.”

Mr Russell said: “I appreciate the frustration that everyone feels about this closure – I feel it myself given that I have had to make several long detours in the last week.

“The work done so far has avoided an estimated 23 days of closures so far, so it has worked in part, though clearly what happened last week means that the strategy will have to be reviewed.

“There are a range of other possibilities but [the Jacobs report] estimated that the tunnel was by far the most expensive.

“In addition, given work done since the Jacobs study by a group in Dunoon, I would also have thought that the alternative of a new bridge over Loch Long to a point near Ardentinny, by passing the Rest, or a fixed link across the Clyde would need to be considered alongside a tunnel if that was a preference, as the cost would be about the same and the benefit might be greater.

"A new road, on the other side of the Glen, a lid over the road or a widening of the road on a platform built out from the current road would all also be contenders if there was an agreement to look at new radical solutions."

Opposition MSPs echoed the call for more permanent solutions.

Helensburgh and Lomond MSP Maurice Corry said: “It is clear everyone agrees a tunnel or cover is required and I fully support this development.

“It’s about time the SNP government invested what is necessary.”

Jackie Baillie MSP added: “The ongoing problems at the Rest and Be Thankful underline the need for investment in our road infrastructure. I know that staff from Bear and Transport Scotland have been working hard to ensure that the route is operational as quickly as possible and I want to thank them for their efforts in very demanding conditions.

"The closure of the Old Military Road has compounded the problem and led to lengthy diversions for motorists.

“I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Michael Mathieson, to highlight the need for further investment in the A83 and the A82. These are key transport corridors for our area that residents and businesses rely on and that are critically important to the wellbeing of our local economy.”

After the road re-opened last week, Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s north west manager said: “We thank the local community and road users for their patience while our teams worked to reopen the road and encourage them to drive safely through the Rest and Be Thankful while teams complete the remaining repairs at the site.”