ANGRY businesses claim their trade has crashed because of road works being carried out on the B3157 coast route between Weymouth and Bridport.

Visitor numbers are down, takings are down and the critically important run-up to Christmas has left tills silent rather than jingling with shoppers.

Typical of those affected were Selwyn and Danielle Holmes who own the Dansel craft gallery in Rodden Row, Abbotsbury, which has seen a 60 per cent drop in visitors because of the works.

Danielle said: “It has had a devastating effect on our trade during the week and it is only because the road is open at the weekends that we can claw some business back.

“Even then we can lose it if the county council forgets to lay down the ‘road closed’ sign and put up a big green one saying ‘road open’.

“It can be very confusing for travellers and if they think there are going to be delays they are not going to bother coming here.

“Even delivery drivers are struggling to find us during the week when the road is closed and they have to try and find a way round to get to us.

“Maybe the road does need repairing, but we were only given two weeks direct notice of a three-month closure.

“They are cutting our throats with unthoughful and unsympathetic road works. The road should be made a special case.”

Marie Peach who runs Peach’s gift shop in Market Street, Abbotsbury, agreed and said: “Our trade is 70 per cent down since the roadworks started and it is terrible.

“The run-up to Christmas is crucial because it is the most important time of the year for us.

“I am just very disappointed that the county council can treat people like this. If they were being affected by something like this they would not stand for it yet they expect us to.

“This is our livelihood and they are taking it away.”

County highways manager Nigel Hamer said: “We do appreciate the concerns of local businesses and wherever possible we have tried to ensure that the public can gain access to those businesses.

“We have met local traders to discuss the situation – following which we amended the schedule of works phases to reduce disruption in the lead-up to Christmas.

“We have also been aware of concerns over signing and have amended signs appropriately following representations from local people. We are continuing to work to enable people to be aware that the road is still open at various times, including evenings and weekends.”

The Abbotsbury-Swyre works finished a week ahead of schedule on November 14 and work has now started on the Snipe Gate-Portesham section with the road being closed from 8.30am-5.30pm Monday-Friday and open at weekends.

If work continues to go well then work on this and a final road section will be completed by December 20 or three days ahead of schedule.