A contraflow system has been set up on Glasgow Road, near to Yoker, while Scottish Water carry out essential works.

Congestion is causing lengthy delays for motorists every day — and is having a devastating impact on local firms.

Caledonian Campers and Conversions — situated in the middle of the contraflow system — has seen trade plummet because customers are avoiding the area. With the roadworks expected to last at least six weeks, Caledonian Campers and Conversions company director Stephen Hutton is worried the business will go under.

He told the Post: “This could potentially put us out of business.

“The contraflow is going right past our premises, we’re stuck in the middle of this and it’s hitting us extremely hard.

“The whole contraflow system is a mess and our staff are struggling to get into work every day because Dock Street has been shut off.

“What’s extremely worrying is the fact that Scottish Water don’t seem to know how long this is going to last. I’ve got a letter saying five months, the garage got a letter saying four months, and the local councillor was told three months.” Caledonian Campers and Conversions, which converts campervans and caravans and rents the vehicles out, has been based in the town for five years and employs seven people.

Stephen said: “We are a seasonal company and have just survived the winter. But Scottish Water are in danger of putting a lot of people out of work if something is not done to change the current roadworks situation.

“Scottish Water has not put up any signage to let people know it’s still business as usual, and they have admitted this is a problem.

“Ourselves and other business owners are being treated terribly. Scottish Water are bullying small businesses.” The roadworks are part of a larger £10 million project that aims to improve water quality, the natural environment of the River Clyde and tackle flooding issues in the Clydebank and Yoker areas.

Other businesses have complained that their takings are down significantly since the contraflow was put in place on Wednesday, February 18.

Carmen Sedgwick, who runs a snack bar on Dock Street, revealed she is losing around £100 a day.

“I’m selling half as many rolls as I usually would before the road works came here,” she told the Post. “We’ve been told it’s going to be six weeks there, and then there’s going to be 16 more weeks where I am, on Dock Street. They have even asked me to close up — but I can’t do that.

“Business hasn’t been that good over the last few years but it’s been steady, and the fact that half the cars can’t get in here is costing me a lot. I can’t see why they can’t create a give-way system in there to allow people to get across.

“The whole thing could have been organised better.” Coming from Clydebank, heading east along Glasgow Road, there is no longer an option to turn into Dock Street.

Instead, Carmen’s customers are being forced to drive past. Most are avoiding stopping altogether for their breakfast roll due to the congestion.

At neighbouring J & W Carpets the shop has been noticeably quieter.

Assistant manager John Cassidy said: “This is not very good for us. The road works have just started but it’s been quieter for us.

“Due to the way the road works are positioned, only half of the cars on the road are actually able to get into us here.” He added: “We know they have to be done and we just have to hope they can do it as soon as possible.” A section of the east bound carriageway of the Glasgow Road near the junction with Mill Road has been closed to allow works to the waste water infrastructure to go ahead.

West Dunbartonshire Council implemented the traffic system after discussions with Scottish Water. Angry business owners have since been in touch with Clydebank Waterfront councillor Kath Ryall.

She said: “We had some complaints as soon as the road works got started and we did go out to review it and amended the diversion at Mill Road.

“Council officers are going out to discuss the situation with business owners with a view of minimising impact on local enterprise.

“It is a problem but it is very difficult to fully resolve when there is essential work that needs done — but what we’re trying to do is lessen the impact of it as much as we can.” She added: “There is certainly a discrepancy in how long the road works will last as I spoke to a business owner who was told five months by Scottish Water, while the council was informed it would be 12 weeks of works in the area.

“I have highlighted this to the head of neighbourhood services so we can try and bring people some clarity on what the time scales are.” A Scottish Water spokesman said: “The road traffic management includes the closure of a section of the east-bound carriageway of Glasgow Road, near the junction with Mill Road, and a contraflow operating on the west-bound carriageway, near the junction with Dock Street, for five weeks from February 18.

“The road traffic management will also include the narrowing of stretches of road on Dock Street. This will involve the narrowing of short stretches of the road on a rolling programme over 12 weeks. But Dock Street will remain open.

“So, the total length of the road traffic management in the area will be 17 weeks.” The Post asked what steps Scottish Water had taken to minimise the impact on traders.

The spokesman responded: “Scottish Water’s measures to minimise the effects of the road traffic management on local businesses included: liaising with West Dunbartonshire Council’s roads department, ensuring that Glasgow Road and Dock Street are kept open, liaising with local businesses, ensuring that access to businesses will be maintained and installing ‘business as usual’ signage.

“We can confirm that customers of all businesses in the area will still be able to gain vehicular access to those businesses and those businesses will still be able to receive deliveries.”