TRADERS fear for their future after it was revealed one of Weymouth’s busiest roads will be closed for two months during the summer.
Wessex Water will close Littlemoor Road on July 13 at the railway bridge close to Dorchester Road while they replace an ageing water main.
The move has angered traders at the Littlemoor Shopping Centre who expect to lose customers during what they say is their busiest time of their year.
Ryan Drage, manager of Daniels Fish and Chips said: “This will destroy our business.
“This shop gets a lot of trade from caravan parks so that will stop and we have regulars who come from the Granby Industrial Estate and Dorchester too.
“June, July and August are our busiest months and we rely on that heavily. I understand it needs to be done, but the height of the summer is ridiculous.
“Why are they doing it in the middle of the summer?”
Sophie George, landlady at the New Inn on Littlemoor Road, was shocked when she opened her letter about the closure.
She said: “This is ridiculous.
“How can you shut the road for the summer holidays? We’re not going to get any passing trade and we rely on people going past to and from the holiday camps.
“This is really bad as they could not have picked a worse moment.
“It’s probably the worst thing that can happen and I’ve no idea if we’ll be okay or not.”
Kris Ainger, technician at Rowlands Pharmacy in Littlemoor Road, said the roadworks will disrupt her and her colleagues.
She said: “We thought it was going to be for two weeks.
“But closing it for two months from the middle of July will cause sheer chaos with all the holiday traffic. It’s going to be a nightmare.
“When there was an accident before, I ended up going home to Southill via Hardy’s Monument and with this it could become like that every day.”
Sonia Fraga, co-owner of Elegance Hair and Beauty, was also expecting it to last two weeks.
She said: “It will affect us because we do have clients coming from that side.
“Two weeks was okay, but two months really is a long time.
“We have people coming from Dorchester Road and Upwey and Broadwey.”
Dave Price, chairman of the Hotel and Guest House leaseholders association, said: “The schools break up for the summer on July 17 so it’s a bad time to do it with the tourists coming.
“It seems absurd to be honest and we won’t be happy.
“If it’s two months it will take up the summer holidays and cause absolute chaos.”
A Wessex Water spokesman confirmed that during the roadworks there will be road closure signs at Chalbury Corner but motorists will be free to drive into Littlemoor.
But there will be no access from the Dorchester Road end.
The Wessex Water spokesman said temporary traffic lights will be used from June 8 prior to the closure.
He said the dates had been chosen in order to prevent clashing with resurfacing work being carried out nearby in the Autumn.
Paul Coggins, Wessex Water’s southern supply manager, added that representatives have met with businesses to assure them customers will be able to access their services.
He said: “The water main in Littlemoor Road is many years old and reaching its life expectancy, “It had previously burst causing major disruption to traffic and leaving homes without water for short periods of time.
“The mains replacement scheme will reduce the possibility of supply interruptions to residents in the future and reduce the likelihood of disruption to motorists who often face delays when emergency repair work takes place.”
Wessex Water has invited residents to an exhibition at the Community Hall, Canberra Road, on Wednesday, May 27, from 3pm to 8pm to discuss the roadworks.
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