Fears roadworks will cost Shropshire pub thousands

The owner of a pub fears a road closure to allow for emergency repair work to be carried out could cost him thousands of pounds a week.

Paul Fletcher, who owns the Sun Inn at Welshampton, near Ellesmere, is worried his business will be hit hard by the closure of the A495 for about a month.

Work started this week on installing a safety barrier on the road at Newton – the main route between Whitchurch and Ellesmere – which has been partially closed since last November.

Mr Fletcher said: "The road being closed is a big hindrance as a big proportion of our customers come from the Ellesmere and Oswestry direction.

"It's going to completely cripple our business.

"It was bad enough with the expectation of it being closed in the daytime.

"However, it's going to be closed at night-time and at weekends, so it's going to be completely closed for four weeks to get it done. But that has a more catastrophic effect on our business.

"The diversion takes people completely out of the way."

Shropshire Council said the road will be closed until June 19 to allow "essential works" to take place to replace a safety barrier following a traffic collision.

"The continued safety risk at this location was the major factor involved in the decision," the council said in a statement.

"Temporary traffic signals have been in place since the incident occurred, as other ongoing works in the area effectively stopped the road from being closed to carry out the work.

"This, in itself is a risk as the longer the signals remain in place the likelihood of an incident increases. Also, due to the complexity of the works, specialist plant and materials have needed to be obtained – if the work is postponed to a later date there is no certainty that these will be available.

"This is therefore the first opportunity to carry out the works and, unfortunately, the depth and scope of the excavation required means that there will be limited carriageway width to maintain any vehicular access past the works although pedestrian and dismounted cyclist access will be maintained throughout the duration of the works."

The statement added: "Local stakeholders have been informed of the closure including all emergency services and affected transport operators. Shropshire Councils Integrated Transport Unit are aware and have been liaising with school bus operators in an attempt to minimise any disruption and finalise alternative arrangements."