Businesses count the cost of diesel spill impact

Stepping Stones in Dorking says it has already lost about £6,000 due to cancellations

Business owners in Surrey say they have lost thousands of pounds due to road closures after a diesel spill on the A24.

A lorry leaked 400 litres (88 gallons) of fuel along 10 miles (16km) of roads in the county last week, leading to parts of the road network being shut.

While the road is now open between Clarks Green Roundabout and Beare Green Roundabout, from Deepdene Roundabout to Denbies Roundabout, and between Givens Grove and junction nine of the M25, the impact remains.

Tina Blore, owner of the Stepping Stones pub, in Dorking, said three events and four large group bookings had been cancelled over the last few days due to customers "getting frustrated" with journey times.

Closures also meant that groups who had booked to watch the Euro 2024 final on Sunday also cancelled, according to Ms Blore.

Surrey County Council said it was "on track" with its works programme to rebuild "large sections" of the A24.

The spillage caused extensive disruption to roads which required diversions

Ms Blore estimates her losses at about £6,000, "which means a lot to us".

The outlook was similar for Adrian Waterworth, landlord at The Royal Oak, in North Holmwood.

He says he is about "30% down" on weekend business, and had lost about £3,000 in takings.

At the 51 Degrees North cafe, in Mickleham, which sits close to the A24 along Dorking Road, owner Kuan Over said a nearby closure had led to a fall in the usual number of dog walkers and parents on the school run grabbing coffee.

"We're getting about 30-40% less [customers] and we have to close at 3pm instead of 4pm," she said.

"It's frustrating that it's an inconvenience for customers, but in terms of handling it, I don't think [the council] could do any better because it's quite a big job."

Roadworks on the north side of the A24 are affecting business at 51 degrees

Gurmit Singh, at Gill Taxi Service, in Dorking, said business had been "quiet" over the weekend due to customers being adverse to paying extra to take a "long route" home due to closures.

Meanwhile, Wasim Choudhery, manager of the Red Chilli restaurant, on Horsham Road, said he had struggled to pay staff due to losing about £10,000 in trade over the past few days.

"Even now it's very, very quiet," he said.

Alongside businesses, commuters and residents, schools have also been impacted by the spillage.

David Blow, executive head of Dorking's Ashcombe School, said pupils were put in the school gym for registration while some staff were stuck in traffic jams.

The Weald Church of England Primary School, in Beare Green, said it had been making allowances for pupils turning up late due to road closures.

Red Chilli sits alongside the A24

Police launched a criminal investigation into the spillage and a man in his 60s was interviewed by officers on suspicion of offences including criminal damage reckless to endanger life, failing to stop at the scene of an collision, dangerous driving, and careless driving.

On Monday, Surrey County Council said it was planing and laying a new road surface from Old Horsham Road towards Flint Hill roundabout, as well as working on the section between the roundabout and Deepdene roundabout.

But it warned that rain - which is accompanied by a Met Office yellow weather warning - forecast for the area "may impact the works".

"We will continue to monitor the situation throughout the week," it said.

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