Months of disruption as key route partially closes

Business owners are worried about the impact of the roadworks

Motorists face six months of disruption along a key route due to roadworks.

The A4 that runs from Bath to Bristol is currently reduced to one lane between Keynsham and Saltford from 09:30 to 15:00 BST as developers build the entrance to a housing development off the Bath Road.

But businesses like the Italian restaurant La Famiglia in Keynsham are concerned that the months of disruption could put customers off.

"We are very worried - I don't think people will stay in a long queue just to come and have a lunch with us," said Alba, one of the owners of La Famiglia.

"Lunchtimes are going to be very difficult. It will have a lot of impact on us, I don't think anybody will come," she added.

A care home in the area told the BBC that one person who comes in regularly by bus to visit a loved one has seen their journey increase from 20 minutes to an hour.

Housing Association Curo has secured permission to build 208 homes on the Bath Road site.

The development will include 168 houses and 40 flats of which 62 properties will be affordable and managed by Curo long-term, with 47 designated for social rent and 15 for shared ownership.

A spokesperson for Curo said: " We have tried to limit disruption especially during peak times and work will be suspended over the October half term and Christmas, restarting on January 1st."