A retired business consultant fears firms operating out of the Heathhall Industrial Estate could start to lose trade due to the “appalling” state of its roads.
Anne Harrow of Dumfries believes that some small traders will start to miss out on customers who refuse to take the risk of damaging their cars on the potholed routes in and out of the estate.
Mrs Harrow said: “The road has never been good but when I drove up today, it was vicious. The road is an absolute mess.
“It’s becoming so dangerous to drive up there. I spoke to one lady who had to spend £400 on repairs after damaging it there.
“I feel really sorry for the businesses up there. They are trying their very best and yet when you try and get in and out of the estate the road is a complete disaster.”
She added: “I know some have been complaining about it to the people who manage the estate but it’s in a sad state of disrepair.
“Given that the estate recently sold for £3.1 million you’d think they could afford to improve the roads.”
A private company acquired the site in November last year in a deal brokered by London and Scottish Property Investment Management, the asset manager for property investment trust Regional REIT Limited.
Councillor Ivor Hyslop, whose Lochar ward represents the area, said: “I know in the past we have discussed the area and there are some bad parts.
“We’ve had applications to area committee in the past to fix private roads but we’ve got a policy in place where we don’t fix private
roads.
“It’s private property so I don’t think we have the right to force them to do anything.”
The managers of the estate were contacted for comment but did not respond.
