Bawbee Bridge Leven: Businesses fear for jobs as trade plummets during roadworks

Worried Leven shop owners claim months of roadworks are killing their businesses.

Shoppers have been avoiding the town due to hold-ups caused by three-way traffic lights at the Bawbee Bridge.

And two other sets of temporary lights elsewhere in Leven last month saw trade plummet even further.

Many businesses fear they won’t survive into next year unless the remaining roadworks are lifted over Christmas.

Stanley Dawson, who owns Dawson’s Amusements with brother Gary, said they had had the worst few months of trading in 50 years.

Meanwhile, Angela Mowatt of the Beach Snack Bar on the Promenade dreads having to lay off staff if the downturn continues.

She said: “I’ve lost a lot of customers and I’m struggling.

“I pay my rent and my staff but I’ve not taken a wage for ages. It’s my only income.”

‘I’ll try everything to stay open’

Critical roadworks have been ongoing at the Bawbee Bridge since July as part of the investment in the new Levenmouth railway line.

Utility companies have been diverting cables before the bridge is removed and rebuilt next year.

However, while a diversion via a temporary bridge will be created during the major rebuilding work, three-way traffic lights will be in place until the new year.

Fife Council has acknowledged the issue is causing delays and disruption and is urging people to support local businesses.

But both Angela and Stanley say shoppers need a break from the hold-ups.

Angela said: “It’s a shambles, a total shambles.

“Folk aren’t wanting to come into Leven and we’re really quiet as a result.

“We’ve been here nine years and I’ll try everything to stay open.

“But if they don’t lift the roadworks for Christmas, I might have to lay off staff.”

‘Easier to get to Glenrothes than Leven’

Stanley Dawson says many Leven businesses feel the same way.

“I know and appreciate the works must be done but the impact it’s had means the footfall in the town has fallen to pieces,” he said.

“I don’t know a single business that’s not saying the same thing.”

He added: “On the 25th of this month we’ll have been here for 50 years.

“This is absolutely the hardest few months we’ve had in that time.

“The biggest part of the Levenmouth population stays on the other side of that bridge.

“They’re going to Glenrothes instead of Leven because it’s easier to get to.

“If this continues in the run up to Christmas, some of Leven’s businesses won’t be here next year.”

Call for no more roadworks until Bawbee Bridge is finished

The businesses have the support of Leven’s councillors.

Labour councillor Colin Davidson previously supported keeping the lights in place until new year but has changed his mind after speaking to shopkeepers.

He said: “I’d like to see all works suspended at least two weeks before Christmas.

“And after that there should be no more roadworks in Leven, unless it’s urgent, until the Bawbee Bridge is finished.

“At one point there were three sets of lights in Leven and the place was at a standstill.”

And Liberal Democrat councillor Eugene Clarke agrees.

He said: “It has to happen.

“There’s no point in bringing a railway line to Leven if the businesses have all shut before it opens.

“Even if it’s just temporary relief it will be enough to help them survive over Christmas.”

Fife Council says it is working with contractors to keep disruption to a minimum and finish works as quickly as possible.

Its economic development team and Business Gateway Fife are also on hand to support businesses directly.