Firms say main road closure will affect business

2 hours ago Share Save Olivia Fraser BBC News, Guernsey Share Save

BBC Mr Vaudin asked customers to allow extra time for their journey to the airport

A main road closure will negatively impact businesses and customers, according to local firms operating in the area. From Monday resurfacing works will affect the road leading up to Guernsey Airport including Le Chêne, Le Bourg and Rue des Landes until Friday 26 September. Traffic and Highways acknowledged a number of businesses will be affected by the work but said it would “improve accessibility and general travel infrastructure for the area”. Owner and driver of Donkey Taxis, Ian Vaudin said the closure was “frustrating” and meant he would not be able to do as many morning airport runs as usual.

“We may get delays at the airport and delays for taking people up to the airport and obviously there will be a cost implication for customers coming from the airport into town” Mr Vaudin said. He added he had been affected by other road closures near the airport and suggested “if they could be made one way rather than close the whole road, I think that would be really useful”. Traffic and Highways said once the road has been resurfaced it would be “placed under a three-year embargo” – meaning further scheduled works should not be permitted during that time, outside of emergency roadworks. The works include the installation of a number of pedestrian crossing points.

Mr Bienvenu said other closures over the years have affected the business badly

Co-owner of Forest Stores on Le Bourg, Keith Bienvenu, said the closures would have a “major impact on the business” although he will be remaining open. He said: “It does make it a lot more difficult to get to the shop, so I’m expecting probably 100 to 200 customers a day fewer than what we normally get. “But it’s something that has to be done, so we generally just have to put up with it.”

‘Frustrating’

Mr Wicker said signage showing when people can access the restaurant is important

Paul Wicker, general manager of nearby The Deerhound pub and restaurant, is concerned about footfall and called the frequency of road closures “frustrating”. He said: “Anyone that’s coming from St Martin or from St Peter Port is facing a very long journey of which there’s probably numerous restaurants before they get to us”. He added: “It feels like as soon as your business is on the up almost they kind of take it away a little bit.”

Sally said she is not looking forward to taking a longer route into St Peter Port

It is something residents in the area, like Sally, are affected by also. She said: “It’s just going to take us a long time to go into town… I’m not looking forward to it really”. Adrian, who also lives near the closed roads, said he would have liked more detailed information on the closure. He said: “It’s one thing the road is going to close, but with more information we’d be able to make informed decisions about which way we were going to go.” Adrian said he created a separate entrance to his home for access during road closures. Traffic and Highways said: “Access directions will change part way through the works, and we will provide an update at that point.”

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