Hampshire Road south on Granby Industrial Estate to close

The southbound lane of the main route through the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth will be closing for a month of roadworks.

This is Hampshire Road and Cumberland Drive between its junctions with the B3157 Chickerell Link Road and Tecan Way. It will begin on Monday, April 15 and is expected to be completed on Friday, May 17.

This will mean that Hampshire Road and Cumberland Drive will essentially be one-way and drivers will not be able to access the estate from Chickerell Link Road.

Closure is in red, diversion is in blue (Image: Dorset Council)

The closure will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is so that Dorset Council can resurface the east side footway.

Mickey Jones, Chief Executive at DJ Property who owns most of the Granby Industrial Estate, said: "The main thing is that the road and the footpath are in awful condition so I forgive them having to do the work because it is vital.

"My only criticism is that it is going to take too long. It affects so many businesses.

"It has got to be done. We can't have people tripping up or cars and bikes damaged but I think they have a responsibility to do it quickly and four weeks seems a long time."

Businesses on the Granby are bracing for the disruption with some expecting delays for customers, staff and deliveries.

One of the partners at Class Bodyworks believes the roadworks will have a big impact. 

She said: "We have a lot of customers driving here. It is going to be disruptive. A month seems a bit extreme, if it was a week we could cope.

"I think it will be a nightmare. From a business point of view, it will affect us."

Class Bodyworks (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Curtis McIntosh-Bowring, assistant manager at County Tyres Weymouth, said: "It is probably going to cause problems, there is a lot of traffic on that road as it is. We get two deliveries a day minimum. There is a potential for it upsetting business but we will have to wait and see."

Rob from Remarkable Carpets & Flooring said: "It is going to make things hard.

"Deliveries, people getting through, getting to work and customers as well. I live in Dorchester, for me to get in I am going to have to go all the way round the other way and sit in a pile of traffic at a time when people are making school runs."

Some businesses are optimistic that the disruption will be minimal.

Steve Biggs, the owner of SB Tools, said: "We do have an open day then but I don't think it will affect us too much. We will just go up Radipole Lane."

SB Tools (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

John Webb, branch manager of Granby Roofing and Building Supplies said: "There will be some problems here, but the road does need some improvement. I don't think it will be a big deal."

John Webb, branch manager of Granby Roofing and Building Supplies (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: "We are resurfacing the east side footway of Hampshire Road and Cumberland Drive, so we will need to close the southbound lane on Hampshire Road and Cumberland Drive while the work takes place. During this time, there will be a signed one-way system along the northbound lane for all vehicles.

"People will still be able to access nearby businesses, and we have been liaising with businesses and stakeholders while planning this work, and answering their questions. Members of the highways team on site during the works will also be able to answer questions, as always." 

For further information about the work being undertaken and access arrangements, call Dorset Council on 01305 228100.

To discuss the closure order, contact Dorset Council on 01305 221020.