Hospitality businesses affected by major road closures in Staffordshire say they are seeing significant falls in trade and are calling for better communication, clearer signage and greater support as disruption continues.
Among them are the owners of the Dog and Doublet in Sandon, who say the B5066 Sandon Road closure associated with Bloor Homes’ Beaconside development has already had a major impact on the business.
The road is set to be closed until May next year, resulting in a nine-mile diversion.
The owners of the Dog and Doublet say the pub has already seen a 20% drop in footfall since the road closed earlier this month. A petition started by Hopton Community Group and shared on the pub’s social media channels calling for the closure to be cancelled has attracted more than 1,300 signatures.
Chris Lewis, of the Lewis Partnership, owners of the Dog and Doublet and the Moat House in Acton Trussell, said the closure had come at a challenging time for the hospitality industry in general.
He told Daily Focus: “There was a one-way system in place from October to December and we coped fairly well with that, but we are already finding that people are getting out of the habit of coming to us with the full road closure. Our local drinkers are still coming in but the number of people coming in meals has dropped off completely.
“The petition has helped to raise awareness and we have seen some new faces coming in to support us as a result.
“I would like to see some sort of support package put in place for the businesses along this road so they will be here in the future. We are working hard to get through it and we will survive, but we are having to cut people’s shifts and put on promotions.
“This is coming on top of a difficult time for hospitality and it makes it a very demoralising situation.”
Staffordshire County Council said it recognises the disruption being caused and is working with Bloor Homes to minimise its impact where possible.
Patrick Allen, the 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. We know this scheme is causing particular concern and we will work with the developer to mitigate the impact as much as we can.
“While the ongoing operation and management of the works are wholly the responsibility of the developer, we will continually monitor and review plans on our road network.
“We are now drawing up a memorandum of understanding with Bloor Homes to ensure they have a defined communications schedule with residents and businesses, offering support wherever possible, and doing all they can to minimise the inevitable disruption.”
Bloor Homes said the Beaconside scheme would deliver 2,000 homes, new schools, flood alleviation measures and other infrastructure improvements.
A spokesperson said: “We are confident that existing businesses will benefit from the new development at Beaconside and will form an important part of that new community. We understand the concerns of local businesses and residents during the works and thank them for their patience.”
The company added that it had installed signage highlighting that local businesses remain open and would continue to work with Staffordshire County Council and community representatives to keep residents and businesses informed.
Similar concerns are also being raised in Brewood, where road closures linked to repairs to the canal bridge have led to a sharp decline in visitors to The Lesters Arms, according to owner Billy Hutchinson, who says footfall has dropped by more than 30%.
He said: “We rely heavily on ease of access for customers travelling from nearby towns and villages.
“Since the closure, many regular customers have simply stopped visiting because the journey has become confusing or considerably longer due to poor signage and the roads used for diversions not being suitable for increased volumes of traffic. For a hospitality business, this level of disruption is extremely damaging.”
While welcoming improvements to diversion signage, Billy is calling for more regular updates on the progress of the works and believes businesses affected by prolonged disruption should be considered for temporary support measures.
He said: “It’s tough, especially with the rise in energy prices and other changes to employment costs. However, we’re 100% committed to building on what has been a hugely successful first two years for The Lesters Arms.
“Twenty full and part-time jobs in Brewood have been created since we launched, and this is just the start – there’s so many exciting plans we’ve got to take The Lesters Arms to the next level.
“We just need to get through the bridge closure, and we can do that with the support of the council and local people. Kiddemore Green Road from Bishops Wood is open all the way to our pub, so come along and see what we’ve got to offer.”
The bridge repairs, which will see structural steel piles installed beneath the road to support a new wall, are being managed by the Canal & River Trust. A spokesperson said a design proposal has been submitted to Staffordshire County Council for approval and that preparations are being made so work can begin as soon as consent is granted.
She added: “We know how important this route is to the local community and recognise the disruption the closure has caused. From the outset, we have been clear that we are aiming to begin repairs in the summer, and we’re continuing to work towards that while ensuring the right long-term solution is agreed. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.”
