Goring and Streatley: Firms' frustration over 'no notice' bridge closure
- Published
Traders Phil Kingsland and Lisa Milne said they were not notified by gas firm SGN
Business owners have expressed frustration over the partial closure of a bridge which connects Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
Motorists will have to use an 11-mile (18km) diversion while Goring and Streatley Bridge is shut over half term for gas main repairs.
Traders said they were not notified by gas firm SGN.
The company said the work was urgent and apologised for any inconvenience it would cause.
Goring and Streatley Bridge crosses the Thames and connects the two villages' high streets
The route will close at 22:00 BST on Friday 20 October and reopen at 06:00 GMT on Monday 30 October.
Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge, which crosses the River Thames and connects the two villages' high streets.
'Completely dead'
Phil Kingsland, owner of Pierreponts Cafe in Goring, said he found out about the work on Facebook on Tuesday.
He said: "Half term is typically quite a busy time for us so it will have definitely a detrimental impact. My trade will be down about 30 to 40%."
Lisa Milne, from Mary S Interiors in Goring, said: "No notification whatsoever. Very disappointed.
"It's our busy build-up to Christmas and it's also half term week so basically the village will be completely dead."
Jody Dorn, from Albert Fields hair salon in the village, said neither she or her colleagues were aware of the closure.
She said: "Getting to work will be harder. It just adds on extra time at peak hours of the day that could amount to 45 minutes.
"If they had printed out some leaflets and come round to businesses, people could make plans and make adjustments."
SGN said it would replace pipes that were in poor condition and the work would prevent disruption in the future.
The firm said it had already contacted local authorities so they could share details of the work and residents and businesses would receive letters this weekend.
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