PROPRIETORS of a number of businesses in the Trebarwith and Trewarmett areas of Tintagel have voiced concern about the detrimental effect the temporary closure of Sanding Road is having on their trade.

The strengthening scheme on a 90 metre stretch of retaining wall began at the beginning of November, when the road was first closed. It re-opened for two weeks over the Christmas period but was closed again on Monday.

The closure begins on the Tintagel side, just east of the entrance to Trebarwith Stoneworks.

Owner of the stoneworks, Mike Daly said: "It's stopping anybody from travelling on the B3263 into Tintagel. I've heard people are just not going into Tintagel from the south side because it's awkward to get there."

Mike explained that it is hard to say whether the business has been affected as the stoneworks is closed for a number of days over Christmas, but after the festive period, a lot of tourists who drive past see the sign and drive up to inquire about various items.

"You can't pinpoint what's missing but we do know that historically we would get 10 to 15 per cent of sales from people passing, and that would be not just in the summer time."

Keri Osborne, who runs the Trewarmett Inn, said they had noticed a downturn in business since the road closure came into effect.

"You can tell when it closes. It just cuts the trade down. It's the passing trade that we're missing out on; it's keeping them away. We know from regular customers that they haven't been coming up because they haven't been driving past."

Keri hoped that the works would be completed before Easter, as a road closure over that period would slash trade further.

"That would be awful for our business. We will miss out on so much trade. We need to get all the custom that we can at the moment with everything being so quiet."

Larry Sleigh, resident manager of the Port William at Trebarwith Strand, said: "Business has definitely been badly affected, not just because of the road closure, but because of the diversions they've had up. All they say is 'find alternative routes' to Camelford or Tintagel, but they don't mention Trebarwith Strand at all. It doesn't give directions to Trebarwith Strand. We need diversions to our part of the area. It's very well for locals but visitors to the area wouldn't know how to get to us at all.

"We had a very, very busy Christmas and new year here which we would have expected anyway, but bearing in mind how we compared with figures last year, business is down."

Larry also raised concern about the signs, which state that the road will be closed until the end of April — when they were originally told work would take 18 weeks, and be completed by the middle of March.

"It will be a nightmare for the road to be closed for Easter, especially with people not knowing how to get to us."

Larry has put up some of his own signs — not just directing people to the Port William, but to Trebarwith Strand in general.

Mark Forbes, proprietor of the Mill House Inn, which is also at Trebarwith, also felt that levels of business have dropped as a result of the road closure — particularly lunchtime trade.

"We're not happy about it. The sooner we can get it sorted, the better."

Nick Smith, design engineer for Mouchel, who are project managers for the retaining wall strengthening scheme, explained that the much-needed work has continually been put back due to concerns from local businesses — making it about three years overdue.

The work was due to start last April, but there was a lot of concern from residents, business owners and councillors, which resulted in another delay and the implementation of a traffic management scheme in which one lane was closed off and traffic lights were put into place for eight months.

Nick said that a lot of consultation has taken place, and they tried to find a favourable window in which to carry out the works.

"There isn't a window where it suits everybody," he added.

The closure date — April 30 — which appears on the road closure sign is incorrect, and Nick clarified that the road space is booked until the end of March. Although work is running slightly behind schedule, he said the completion is geared to that date.

With regards to the concerns from businesses in Trebarwith Strand, Nick said: "I can appreciate there are concerns about the level of trade."

He said diversion routes have to be on a 'b' road (one which is gritted in cold weather), but he could see no problem with businesses putting up their own diversion signs while work is being carried out.

Nick has also made a request for extra signage at Fenterleigh Cross, stating that all businesses are open in Trebarwith.

The Trewarmett Inn, Port William, Mill House Inn and the Trebarwith Stoneworks can be reached via Trevillett Road.