Concerned businesses have voiced fears that road closures will drive their trade away.
Temporary roadworks are taking place on the B5066 Sandon Road as part of a new Bloor Homes development of 2,000 homes north of Beaconside, near Stafford.
The roadworks came into force at the start of the month and are due to run until Monday, 15 December, with a one-way system in place from Beaconside to Hopton Lane. Traffic can still travel from Beaconside to the A51.
But businesses have told Daily Focus that they didn’t receive advanced warning of these works and they are also concerned about further, lengthier roadworks set to take place next year to form the new site access junction.
Chris Lewis, a director of The Dog & Doublet Inn, in Sandon, had to send out a last minute communication to guests, only for the one-way traffic flow to be reversed, meaning information he sent out was incorrect.
He said: “There has been no formal consultation with us and a real lack of communication.
“The hotel has 11 bedrooms and that trade is heavily reliant on business from Stafford companies. Our customers now facing a circuitous route to and from Sandon are already deciding against travelling to the Dog & Doublet.”
He said that extended commute times are disrupting employees’ personal time and the venue is already seeing a direct impact on revenue caused by late starts and overtime, missed deliveries and re-rerouting of supplier deliveries.
Chris has requested that communication is improved to all businesses along the B5066 and a liaison officer is appointed for affected businesses.
He also wants the reconsideration of a full road closure next year, suggesting two-way access is maintained through the use of temporary traffic lights.
Karen Brain runs fitness studio B-FIT at the Beaconside end of Sandon Road. She says diversions are adding up to 20 minutes onto the journey times of those travelling to her business and she is worried about how continued disruption will affect her growth plans.
Karen told Daily Focus: “Increased journey times are affecting my wellbeing, but they are also an inconvenience for my clients.
“Detours mean driving down country lanes which are dark in winter and some of my clients are in their 70s and aren’t confident drivers. I’m worried it will put people off coming, and how it will affect the growth of my business.”
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has written to the county council and the developer to help to voice the businesses’ concerns.
A Bloor Homes spokesperson has confirmed that advanced warning signs were put in place two weeks before the closure started, which is standard practice, and that the current works are running to schedule.
The project will also deliver new primary and secondary schools and other amenities including retail units and a health centre.
The spokesperson said: “The highways improvement works currently taking place at Sandon Road are part of a package of works which will deliver substantial new housing, including affordable housing, and significant community benefits and infrastructure including a new secondary school.
“We have been in constant communication with Staffordshire County Council to ensure the works can be done as quickly and as safely as possible. We are working to a tight timeline, as our ambition is to meet the urgent need for education provision in Stafford soon.”
Patrick Allen, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet support member for highways said: “We understand the frustrations any roadworks bring, especially when they are longer running as developer projects often are.
“The county council manages the road network and grants developers approval to carry out works within a specified time. Ongoing operation and management of the works – including communication to residents and businesses – are then wholly the responsibility of the developer.
“We liaise with developers and carefully monitor works to ensure they are carried out in accordance with the approved plans and on schedule. A memorandum of understanding for Sandon Road is being drawn up with Bloor Homes to formalise this arrangement.”
Any questions regarding the works can be sent to engagement@calcomms.co.uk
