Planned roadworks between Bridport and Poundbury will ‘turn the tap off’ according to one pub landlord.

As reported, publicans and residents in Chideock have been left ‘infuriated’ by overnight road closures from Axminster to Bridport – effectively cutting the town off.

The roadworks are part of a £350,000 round of repairs and maintenance being carried out by National Highways. 

The road closures are set to get 'worse' though for the George Inn in Chideock.

Work along Chideock Hill took place on Wednesday night (July 3 ), with road resurfacing taking place right outside the pub tonight (Friday) - affecting peak trading hours.

READ: Three weeks of overnight A35 closures Bridport to Axminster

Amy Day, landlady at the George, said: "So far the roadworks have been okay, but this week is going to be worse and we have just found out that they are resurfacing the road right outside the pub on Friday evening, so there is no access in or out which means we have to get get all our staff off site by 8pm.

"We only knew because they have spray painted outside and one of our staff emailed them to find out if they were working there - if she hadn't they wouldn't have told us.

"They are a bloody nightmare."

Once these roadworks are completed, National Highways will move on to the section of the A35 between Bridport and Poundbury.

Pubs that rely on that stretch of road as its main form of access for trade have also complained about the lack of communication surrounding the work and its timing.

READ: A35 closed overnight between Bridport and Axminster

Ben Carter, who runs The Brewers Arms in Martinstown said he was ‘not aware of the closure’ and said it would ‘turn the tap off’ for trade in the area.

Speaking to The News, he said: “It will undoubtedly affect the pub.

“It has affected us in the past and has been immensely frustrating.

"If they are closing the road they should be contacting all the businesses directly affected by it and have signs up saying they are open as usual.

“We are a stopover destination, so if the road is closed it turns the tap off.”

READ: A35 Chideock Hill: National Highways update on landslip

Closer to Bridport,  Matt Hallett one of the landlords at The Loders Arms is slightly more optimistic the roadworks will have less of an impact on trade.

He said: “At best it will make no difference, but it won’t make it any better that is for sure.

“We are slightly off the road so there are other ways in and areas we get trade from like Beaminster and Crewkerne.”

However, Mr Hallett says the roadworks are ‘far from ideal’ but concedes he ‘understands why’ the roadworks are being done at this time of year.

He added: "It’s certainly going to be problematic; we have people in the village who travel for work that way.

“A big issue is there are no specific routes for the diversion.

“I drive through Chideock a lot and the road signs say it is closed but they are doing nothing.

“Everyone just funnels down the back roads and they are not built for it.

“It makes you feel accidents will happen – I guess it will be the same here.”

National Highways has been contacted for a statement.