Brislington businesses fear for hit on trade because of roadworks

Traders on Sandy Park Road have expressed their concerns for business due to major road closures lasting until the end of January next year. Today (September 16) road closures have started to be put in place, though the works will be carried out in phases by Wales & West Utilities.

Signage this morning on Sandy Park Road reads "Road closed 16 Sept for [blank] weeks." According to the One Network site, works will be carried out in five phases.

Small segments of Sandy Park Road will be closed at a time. Phase one includes a closure at the top of the road outside St Cuthbert's Church and vehicles can travel along the rest of the road and divert in a loop down Sandringham Road and Wick Road.

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The works will be staggered down the road in this way so that traffic can be diverted. First Bus is diverting all buses until January 31.

Buses heading towards Cribbs Causeway will turn left at the top of Allison Road on to Wick Road, to Bath Road, and will then follow Bath Road to resume the normal route by Arnos Court Hotel. The buses heading towards Broomhill will operate this route in reverse.

Vicky Burt co-owns Deli @ Sandy Park with her partner. She expressed her shared anxiety with other business owners on the street. "I think ourselves and other businesses on the street are very, very anxious. We are lucky that many of our customers walk, but I think it is going to be chaos because Sandy Park is a very, very busy road," she said.

"I hope that it doesn't have any impact, and that Christmas is still successful."

Andy Johnstone, owner of Chatams Dry Cleaners, said: "Although I understand that this work is essential, I'm also aware that these projects very seldom run to plan and often overrun. I also feel the communication of the works was not sufficient.

"As a trader, it will have an adverse effect and it will be a period where all businesses in Sandy Park will need the support of locals to help see them through. Having said that, the local community is fantastic here."

Postmaster Craig Harvey expressed his concern for the miscommunication of what the works will involve. He was aware that a phased approach would be taken, but is worried that many are now avoiding Sandy Park altogether.

"We were fully aware that it would be a phased closure. It should be an extremely busy day today and I want to get the message out that Sandy Park is up and running," said Craig.

"It is a phased, partial road closure. It is 99.9% accessible to all customers and delivery drivers."