Farm shop ‘at risk of closing’ due to A605/B1095 roadworks in Peterborough

Stephen Briggs, who co-owns the Harvest Barn Farm Shop and Café in Farcet with his wife Lynn, said a series of roadworks have had a “devastating impact” and could lead to 10 people losing their jobs.

Businesses located on the busy road have already experienced eight road closures in the past two years and there will be a further four week closure from Monday due to a scheme to install a designated lane to turn right on the A605 towards Pondersbridge to alleviate traffic congestion.

RELATED: B1095 in Peterborough to be closed day and night for four weeks as works progress

The latest roadworks are to allow for exploratory investigations by Cadent Gas so it can assess how long it will need for its works when the road is dug up.

The B1095 will be closed all day every day from the junction with the A605 Whittlesey Road with traffic diverted through Farcet.

Mr Briggs, who recently met with North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara to discuss the issue, said: “After building the business from scratch the repeated closures are having a devastating impact on business viability and it is jeopardizing 10 jobs with knock on impacts to suppliers.

“There is poor advance consultation regarding roadworks and little co-ordination between highways and utilities and no compensation for loss of income. We appreciate that the works have to be undertaken but there is little consideration given to the disruptive and economic impact on business.”

Mr and Mrs Briggs opened Harvest Barn Farm Shop and Café in Whitehall Farm, Farcet, in 2018.

They said other nearby businesses are also feeling the negative impact of the works.

One possible compromise that Mr Vara discussed with Mr and Mrs Briggs was the highways authority considering to allow vehicle access during weekends when no work is carried out on the roads. This would be helpful as the weekend trade could help to offset some of the losses being incurred by the affected businesses.

Following the visit, Mr Vara said: “The Harvest Barn Farm Shop and other businesses along the B1095 rely on customers using cars along this busy road. Everyone recognises the need for the roadworks to be carried out but their continuing nature over such a long period of time is threatening the viability of the businesses as well as all the employment that the businesses provide.

“A lot of trade is carried out during weekends so it would be good if the highways authority could take measures to allow this to continue, just over the weekend when no road works are being done.

“I have taken this up with Mrs Gillian Beasley, the chief executive of (Peterborough city) council, in the hope that a compromise can be reached for the council to partially open the roads at times when no road works are being done.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “We apologise for and acknowledge the impact of the closure on the surrounding businesses and we are working with our partners to reduce the impact and duration of these works.

“The works that are being undertaken are preparatory works for the main works on the A605/B1095 Milk & Water Drove junction.”