Relief at end of road closure that killed Abbotsbury trade

A 200-metre stretch of the B3157 (Goose Hill), Portesham re-opened on Monday after a four-week closure, around two weeks earlier than previously planned.

The Coast Road was shut to traffic in both directions in late September for Wessex Water’s £200,000 six-week project to replace ageing water mains.

Traffic moving on the coast road, though there are still temporary traffic lights (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Shortly after the closure, Abbotsbury businesses said it had 'killed trade' as people were thought to be put off from visiting, and there was no more passing trade of people heading to and from Weymouth or Bridport.

Jonathan Cooke, proprietor of Abbotsbury guest house Abbey House, previously told the News that trade was down 80 per cent, a trend he says continued throughout the closure.

"There is a relief that it is finally over, but it doesn't change the situation we were all in," he said.

"Trade was probably more than 80 per cent down throughout. Some days we didn't have anyone at all.

"It was really quiet. It was noticeably different when they re-opened the road.

"It is now the end of the season and everything finishes at the end of this week."

Jonathan Cooke of Abbey House (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Mr Cooke added that country lanes used as a rat run to bypass the closure have suffered damage due to the increased use.

Mike Robins, owner of the Meat@Robins Farm Shop, says the closure also affected his trade.

He said: "It was quiet throughout and I am absolutely relieved it is done. It has been since the last week of September that we have had road closures. They have had quite a detrimental effect.

"We just hope it goes back to normal, that is the main thing."

Mike Robins and his wife Cheryl (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

However, Stephen Bellenie, the owner of Bellenie's Bake House, says Wessex Water did the best it could to ease the impact of vital works, including providing a shuttle bus from Abbotsbury to Bridport. 

He said: "From my point of view Wessex Water has completed the job early and I think they have tried the best they could.

"People were still visiting Abbotsbury. My trade was probably only down 20 per cent. My hours and days didn't change.

"I have been here 19 years so the road has been closed several times in that period. When Wessex Water shuts the road they try to have the smallest impact they can on the businesses and local people."

Stephen Bellenie (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Whilst the route is no longer completely shut, there are three-way signals in place on the B3157 and at Malthouse Meadow on the western side of Portesham.

These lights are expected to be in place until early November as work finishes up.

People in Portesham previously approached by the News say they were largely unaffected as they can get to Weymouth without issues and took back roads to get to Abbotsbury.

A spokesperson for Wessex Water said: "We’ve worked closely with local businesses before and during the project to identify the impact that the road closure would have on them and we’ve put measures in place to address these. This included signage to remind people that the businesses were still open and an advertisement feature in the Dorset Echo.

"The temporary lights are expected to be removed by close of play next week."