A South Holland business is down by 800 customers a week thanks to the closure of Surfleet Road.
Dina Modhwadia, whose family took over Pinchbeck Post Office and Spar shop in November 2023, says the nine-week closure to put a sewer system into a new development has led to less footfall in the shop and to a drop off in the takeaway food businesses she also runs.
“We counted customers one night last week and we’ve worked out we’re 800 visitors a week down,” she said. “It’s very bad for us and affecting us day by day.
“We had a very good response to launching the takeaway service for home cooked food from a wide area but it’s dropped off.”
Coun James Avery, of Pinchbeck Parish Council, said he was also disappointed that other roads had to close because traffic was ignoring signposted diversions and using small country roads such as Milestone Lane, Crossgate Lane and Flaxmill Lane.
“Highways nearly always get bad press in this type of situation, but I believe they acted promptly to get the traffic situation under some level of control, and have communicated well,” he said. “Undoubtedly, there was always the potential for impacting local businesses, but this must be difficult to predict or quantify.
“I’m sure businesses either side of the road closure have had some degree of impact, and I sympathise with those business owners.
“Ultimately, the road has been closed to enable Burmor Construction to deliver appropriate infrastructure in relation to the much needed 37 affordable homes on Surfleet Road.
“I sincerely hope LCC Highways will hold the developer to account in making good any damage caused to the highways and verges.
“I also feel it would be appropriate for Burmor Construction to go some way to not only recognise, but to support the local businesses that have been impacted by the road closure.
“Thankfully we’re halfway through the closure period.”
The Voice approached Burmor for a comment but had not received a response at the time of going to press.
