TRADERS have hit out at plans to close a major route through Weymouth next week.

Shoppers have been asking how they will get to businesses along Littlemoor Road in Weymouth since signs went up saying a stretch the road will be shut from Monday morning until Wednesday evening next week.

Dorset County Council is shutting a section of Littlemoor Road as part of ongoing work on the new stretch of road there.

This means drivers will not be able to travel from one end of Littlemoor Road to the other but motorists will still be able to drive along it to access businesses and homes.

But Andrew Cogan, assistant manager at West Dorset Aquatics, said his customers mistakenly believed they would not be able to visit.

He said: “As there are signs at either end saying it’s going to be closed we’ve had people asking how they are going to get to us.

“It would help if they can enhance their signs.”

Matthew Betts, from Chalbury Food and Wine, said business would be hit and families who lived in Littlemoor would be affected on the run to St Andrew’s School He said: “It’s not just us losing business it’s the disruption to everybody.

“I know a couple of mums who live just on the other side of the closure who have to drive to the school and get to work afterwards.

“But we are very pleased about how it will be when it’s finished.”

Drivers will be able to get to the businesses around Goulds Garden Centre by travelling to Preston and driving from that end of Littlemoor Road.

Motorists will go via the relief road end of the estate to get to the Littlemoor Shopping Centre.

Lesley Pedrick, manager at Cotton Traders, said despite the inconvenience, traders were happy with the changes.

She said: “They do possibly need to improve their signs but we are very pleased with the road.”

A Dorset County Council spokesman said 100 metres of Littlemoor Road would be closed to traffic for the three days.

She said: “From 7.30am on Monday until the evening of Wednesday, June 15, vehicles wishing to access properties between Goulds Garden Centre and Chalbury Corner will need to approach Littlemoor Road from its Preston side.

“Motorists wishing to get to properties to the west of Goulds Garden Centre will need to access Littlemoor Road from Bincombe Bumps roundabout or from Dorchester Road.”

And Matthew Piles, Dorset County Council’s strategic projects manager, said the pavement would remain open so that pedestrians could still access the whole of Littlemoor Road – including the walking bus to St Andrew’s school.

He said: “We know this is an inconvenience and will create longer journeys for some people but there is no other way to finish this new section of road.”