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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Experts assess landslide damage | Experts assess landslide damage |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Work to assess the damage caused by a landslide on a major route through southern Scotland is under way. | Work to assess the damage caused by a landslide on a major route through southern Scotland is under way. |
| The A7 was closed south of Langholm on Thursday as heavy rain caused a serious land slip in the area. | The A7 was closed south of Langholm on Thursday as heavy rain caused a serious land slip in the area. |
| It prompted fears of several weeks of travel problems for the town, which local councillor Denis Male said would be an "absolute disaster" for business. | |
| Transport Scotland said "every effort" would be made to ensure the route reopened as soon as possible. | |
| Lengthy diversions have been put in place, making travelling by road around Langholm difficult. | Lengthy diversions have been put in place, making travelling by road around Langholm difficult. |
| The A7 is the town's main link to Cumbria and the Borders. | The A7 is the town's main link to Cumbria and the Borders. |
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| Expert assesses the landslide damage | |
| Mr Male said: "I don't think it is going to be an easy repair job. | Mr Male said: "I don't think it is going to be an easy repair job. |
| "This could mean major problems for our business community, as the single roads can't cope well with heavy vehicles." | "This could mean major problems for our business community, as the single roads can't cope well with heavy vehicles." |
| Representatives from Bear Scotland, which manages the country's roads, and the Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland are meeting at the site. | Representatives from Bear Scotland, which manages the country's roads, and the Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland are meeting at the site. |
| Officials from Dumfries and Galloway Council and engineers were also expected to attend. | Officials from Dumfries and Galloway Council and engineers were also expected to attend. |
| Transport Scotland has promised to tackle the situation swiftly. | Transport Scotland has promised to tackle the situation swiftly. |
| A spokeswoman said: "Every effort will be made to ensure that this important route for local communities and businesses, including those involved in the tourism industry, is reopened as soon as possible." | A spokeswoman said: "Every effort will be made to ensure that this important route for local communities and businesses, including those involved in the tourism industry, is reopened as soon as possible." |
| Working hard | Working hard |
| Police have estimated it could take up to eight weeks to reopen the road. | Police have estimated it could take up to eight weeks to reopen the road. |
| However, Bear Scotland's south east director John Murphy said it was too early to say how long the road may be closed. | However, Bear Scotland's south east director John Murphy said it was too early to say how long the road may be closed. |
| He told BBC Radio Scotland: "These things will inevitably happen, particularly on rural roads where there is no formal engineering drainage system. | He told BBC Radio Scotland: "These things will inevitably happen, particularly on rural roads where there is no formal engineering drainage system. |
| "We are well aware of the sense of urgency and the disruption this causes to local communities and the business communities. | "We are well aware of the sense of urgency and the disruption this causes to local communities and the business communities. |
| "We will certainly be working very hard with Transport Scotland to make sure we get this road open as soon as possible." | "We will certainly be working very hard with Transport Scotland to make sure we get this road open as soon as possible." |