The threat of ‘enormous’ traffic disruption looms over a Suffolk village if motorists ignore diversion signs during a four-week road closure.
A stretch of High Street, Ufford, is closed as contractors connect mains supplies to new housing and widen a footpath.
Drivers are advised to take an alternative route along the A12 – but concerns are growing over how many will take heed.
Fears are amplified for owners of The Ufford Crown pub and restaurant, who predict the closure will have a ‘devastating’ effect on trade.
The developers have asked Suffolk County Council to add “businesses open as usual” to diversion signs.
Furthermore, on the first day of the closure, an ambulance was forced to turn back en route to treat an older woman in Alderton for an neck injury.
Parish clerk Judi Hallett said she was waiting by the phone in case of a call reporting gridlock.
“The official diversion is via the A12, but it’s much quicker to take School Lane and The Avenue – a small road and a single-track lane, separated by a very tight junction, where I’ve seen cars make three-point turns even on a normal day,” said Mrs Hallett, who appealed for the mains and footpath work to take place independently, controlled by traffic lights.
“If done at the same time, the work will be completed sooner, but it’s likely to cause enormous disruption,” she said.
Polly Durrant, from The Crown, believes anyone travelling from Woodbridge will be put off, while in the opposite direction drivers will turn around in the car park.
“Even customers with a booking will wonder how on earth they’re supposed to get here,” she added.
“It will have a devastating effect on trade, during one of the busiest periods of the year. We’re talking thousands each week – and we’ll be losing more money if staff are standing around doing nothing.
“It’s tempting to encourage people to reach us by going through Ufford – but I don’t want to, because I know the village wouldn’t thank me for it.”
The work is being carried out as part of the development at Crown Nurseries by Landex Ltd.
The firm said: “We regret any inconvenience this closure may cause, but the route and signage is in the hands of Suffolk County Council and its contractors. We will communicate the concerns in relation to use of The Avenue as an alternative route to them.”
A Suffolk County Council spokesman said it authorised the road closure and diversion for the safety of workforce and users of the public highway, and that the company carrying out the work must follow national guidelines and legislation to ensure signs and layouts are safe and correct.
Its duty, said the spokesman, was to “coordinate works to minimise disruption and inspect works to ensure quality of reinstatement and safety”.
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