Junction work is scaring off custom, says farm shop

Chris Wightman says the fall in trade is the worst he's seen in 18 years

A farm shop says it is losing trade because of an "unsafe" junction where roadworks are taking place.

Temporary traffic lights were installed on the A12 at the Friday Street junction in Farnham, Suffolk, after a series of crashes.

But Chris Wightman, a fishmonger at Friday Street Farm Shop, said customers were frightened to use the junction.

A spokesman for Sizewell C, which is carrying out the work, said it would "enhance safety at what has historically been a dangerous junction".

Traffic lights were installed at the junction as a "precaution"

Motorists had complained about "confusing" traffic signals at the site.

Mr Wightman said: "I've been here 18 years [and] this is the worst downturn we've had since being here.

"We've been through Covid, we've been through the credit crunch... and we still managed to tick along."

But he said since the roadworks began in July, the junction had become more dangerous.

"We've got an older population here that are frightened to use it," he said.

Sizewell C said three-way traffic lights, in operation from the evening rush hour until 06:00 GMT to improve safety on the A12 were removed at the weekend.

The lights outside the farm shop on the A1094 will be removed later this week, a spokesperson said.

Cones along the dual carriageway between Woodbridge and Wickham Market would also be cleared later this week to help improve traffic flow.

However, traffic management measures will be in place at the junction until the new roundabout is complete next year.

Ralph Bishop says the timing of the downturn before Christmas is especially concerning

Ralph Bishop, the farm shop's general manager, said: "We've still got a loyal local customer base but it has put people off coming to us because of the publicity online regarding the situation.

"In the end, as a business we can see that this junction will benefit everybody because it will become safer, but... it's [about] getting to that point, which could take some time."

A spokesman for Sizewell C said: "We fully recognise the impact of these works and greatly appreciate the public's patience as we deliver this vital infrastructure, which will bring long-term benefits to both the project and the wider community."