BUSINESS in Sutton Benger are worried closing the main road through the village during the day for three weeks from Monday (jun 19) will hit their trade, despite being promised signs telling motorists they are open as usual.

“We are all behind the road closure and the works, we all live in the village and we wanted it done, but we want people to keep coming to our businesses,” explained Sam Loud, landlady of village pub The Wellesley Arms. “We get quite a lot of passing trade and we don’t want to lose that.”

The B4069 is being closed for resurfacing and to have new manhole covers and grids fitted, before white lines and road markings are repainted, work the villagers agree is badly needed.

“We know the work needs doing, and we agree with the road closure for safety reasons, but it is a concern that people will see the closure signs and not read the bit saying access for businesses,” Mrs Loud added.

The other firms affected are La Flambe restaurant, the Bell House hotel, which also runs the village’s Post Office, and Hazelwood beauty salon.

The High Street is being closed from next to The Paddocks on the edge of the village for a kilometre length between 9.30am-3.30pm every day for the three weeks it is expected work will take - although the council warns poor weather during that time may mean the works take longer to complete.

“It seems like such a long time, but we know there are good reasons why,” said Mrs Loud. “They are closing the road after the school buses have left and opening it again before the children come home, for their safety. They can’t close it for a shorter time for 24 hours a day because we are the main diversion route between Swindon and Chippenham for the M4 if there is an accident there and they have to close the motorway.”

The road closure will also affect everyone living in the village, as locals have been warned by Wiltshire Council that although they will be able to get to and from their homes, journeys may take longer than usual.

From Monday, the alternative route is along the unaffected stretch of the B4069, the A420, A4 and A3102 and vice versa.