A35 roadworks leave pubs and residents 'infuriated'

Overnight closures on the A35 between Axminster and Bridport began on Monday, with the road shut from 8pm until 6am until July 18. Work will then move to the Bridport - Dorchester section of the road, with closures along that stretch until July 31.

This is to allow for the latest £350,000 round of repairs and maintenance to take place by National Highways. 

There is also a £2 million project to repair the road on Chideock Hill where a landslip had caused the road to become unsafe.

Amy Day, who runs the George Inn in Chideock, along with her partner Jamie Smith, says the road closures are 'killing' its food trade.

The George Inn in Chideock sits right on the A35 which will be closed from 8pm until 6am on week nights for three weeks (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

She said: "This happens to us all the time - it is a nightmare - it completely kills our trade."

"Last time we were not even allowed in the village. We have had no letter, no communication we only know about it when the signs go up."

Amy says the pub may struggle to stay open on some evenings and they are 'playing it by ear' each night.

She has even been forced to let staff leave early to avoid getting stuck in the village.

Roadworks on Chideock Hill (Image: Google Maps)

Road closures are becoming a familiar sight for people living, working and travelling in Chideock, with work taking place in March, April and May already this year.

In Seatown, Ross Diaper, manager at the Anchor Inn, has been left wondering why the current work could not have been done at a different time of year.

He said: "It's not ideal and I understand that the work needs to be done but in an ideal world it would happen in October or November, not the first week in July."

The Anchor Inn in Seatown can only be accessed from Chideock and the A35 (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

It is not just the local pub trade that is suffering, however, residents are also finding themselves stuck and dealing with huge detours.

Lyn Crisp, from Chideock, said: "My problem is the road marshal people, they send people off in ridiculous directions.

"It's all a nonsense. 

"The detour they send you is to Broadwindsor, in the dark, along country lanes. It's very frightening - especially for young drivers."

Mary Noon from Morcombelake in west Dorset (Image: Mary Noon)

In Morcombelake, wife of Cllr Christopher Noon, Mary Noon, says she is 'infuriated' that there has been 'no thought or consideration for west Dorset' when timing these roadworks.

She agrees that road repairs need to carried out as the road is 'unfit for purpose', but suggested starting work from 10pm instead of 8pm may have relieved 'much of the distress and impact on local business'.  

Once work is complete between Bridport and Axminster, weeks of work will begin on the A35 from Bridport to Poundbury.

A spokesperson for National Highways said: "Essential maintenance work started this week on the A35 in Dorset and will continue at various locations between Axminster and Bridport until 16 July.

"The work, which takes place every year at this time, is scheduled to avoid the busy peak school summer holiday period but also late enough in the year to be as efficient as possible by minimising the possibility of rain-related delays and making the most of increased daylight during the working period of 8pm until 6am.

"Work includes resurfacing to keep the route safe and reliable as well as vegetation cutting, sign visibility cutting and essential drainage work.

"Roadside signs have been in position ahead of the works to advise drivers at each location of the work times and we will do everything possible to keep disruption to a minimum until all maintenance has been completed."