Two-year bridge closure 'disaster' for businesses

A two-year bridge closure has caused a "swift" drop in customer numbers, local business owners have said.

The 85-year-old Winterstoke Road Bridge in Weston-super-Mare closed to traffic in November amid an £11m replacement project, which is expected to be finished by summer 2027.

Business leaders who trade near the site said they were dependent on the 20,000 daily vehicle journeys that crossed the bridge, with one owner describing the works as a "disaster".

North Somerset Council said the bridge would have been closed permanently if it was not replaced, and added discussions with businesses are ongoing.

Council chiefs added that diversion routes are in place for traffic, and a temporary footbridge has been built so people can still access local businesses.

Edward Hunt, owner of Roy Hart Motors near the bridge, said businesses have been offered no compensation.

He told BBC Radio Bristol: "The whole process has been so dragged out.

"It was going to start two years ago, then 18 months ago and then they put up traffic lights for four or five months which was a nightmare.

"That made access even worse, there were accidents outside the building. It's been a disaster."

Carmen Hanif, from the south-west branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said the impact had been "swift".

She said: "The reality is, this work isn't due to be complete until next summer but some of these businesses will hit the wall by then if something isn't done quickly."

Hanif has called on the council to provide business rates relief and urged people to visit shops and cafes in the area.

"It comes down to usage and that old adage of use-it-or-lose-it," she said.

"We appreciate for some of those businesses there's going to be some extra time travelling to get to them.

"But please do go out and support them, it's the only way they're going to survive."

A council spokesperson said the new bridge will serve residents and businesses for the next 120 years when it opens.

They said: "We recognise the concerns the Federation of Small Businesses have raised with us in recent weeks regarding a small number of businesses near Winterstoke Road Bridge, and we met with them to discuss their issues.

"Whilst there are diversion routes in place for traffic on Winterstoke Road Bridge, we have worked hard to maintain access by building a temporary footbridge that can be used by pedestrians to connect communities to local businesses."

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