TRADERS in Poundbury fear that business will just be passing them by when one of their main access roads closes for 16 weeks.

Bridport Road through the Prince of Wales's dream development is due to close later this month while extra traffic calming measures are created.

But businesses on Peverell Avenue West and in nearby Challacombe Square claim that it will be almost impossible to reach them unless the Duchy of Cornwall agrees to remove the road block between them and Peverell Avenue East.

Jessie Copper, of Poundbury Florist, said that she had been told that the different parts of the road would be closed at different times.

"It's going to be really difficult for people to find us. Because one week they will be able to get to us one way and the next they won't.

"We are hoping that the Duchy of Cornwall will agree to open up the whole of Peverell Avenue to make access easier. But if they don't there will be no passing trade."

Nicci Grey, of Angel Cakes, said she feared for the future of her fledgling company because of the closure.

"We have only been open a few months and these next four months should be our busiest time. But if we don't get passing trade through the summer we will end up having to close. It's really going to affect us."

She said that all the shops in the area had a petition calling for Peverell Avenue East and West to link up properly.

Jonathan Charles, of the Dorset Wine Company, said: "People are used to coming to us from Dorchester and although they may find us one time it may be completely different when they come again. There will be next to no new business."

Construction manager at Poundbury Malcolm Savage said that it would be impossible to open the whole of Peverell Avenue on health and safety grounds but he promised that disruptions caused by the closure of Bridport Road would be kept to a minimum.

He said the Duchy had permission from Dorset County Council to close Bridport Road for up to 16 weeks from July 15.

"We are hoping to keep disruption to a minimum and I can guarantee that Bridport Road will not be closed from both ends at the same time while the work takes place.

"The length will be accessible and there will always be a way to shoot off down into the development. We are sympathetic to concerns. All diversions will be signposted," he said.