Miles of roadworks taking place along a Lake District valley are confusing visitors, hitting trade and having a “huge, negative, impact” on “exhausted” business owners, a tourism group has said.
Communities around Ullswater, Glenridding and Patterdale, have been left “disheartened” following months of disruption and communication failings during the five-phase A592 improvements between Rheged and Windermere.
“All of the businesses I speak to are exhausted and disheartened,” said Rachel Bell, a spokesperson for the Ullswater Association, whose members include attractions and accommodation providers.
“These closures continue to have a huge, negative impact on businesses — further stalling their recovery from the pandemic. It is essential that full closures are kept to an absolute minimum,” said Ms Bell, who works for Lakeland Estates, operators of the Glenridding-based Ullswater Steamers. “During the previous phases of the work, signage has been inadequate both in the north and south of the valley, and often misleading.”
Drivers have faced massive diversions with some of the signage even puzzling those familiar with the local road network.
Starting last September, the £7.4 million safety scheme has over-run and will not be finished until March, 2024, barring further set-backs.
Today (6th March) sees a return of road closures as work focuses on a 4.2-mile section affecting the 1,489ft Kirkstone Pass, a key arterial route linking the South Lakes with the north.
Rob Shephard, chairman of Patterdale Parish Council, agreed that there had been a “large and negative” impact.
This had been exacerbated, he said, by “poor communication with the local community and businesses”, with visitors discouraged by “bad signage”, even though businesses remained open.
“We have been assured that these issues will not happen with the Kirkstone phase, but time will tell,” said Mr Shephard.
Next week’s works, running until 31st March, involve a section stretching miles between Brotherswater and Hird Wood on the Troutbeck side.
It will be subject to a full road closure lasting more than three weeks. It will remain open “most of the time”, but there will be periods requiring it to shut entirely.
Officials, keen to avoid works during popular tourism months, say they are working days and weekends but the repairs cannot be done at night.
That’s due to the potential noise impact on staying guests. Natural England too had objected to night works for fear of disturbing wildlife, the council has said.
The A-road, very narrow in parts, is also not wide enough for the deployment of specialist “tower lights” to work safely at night.
Single-lane closures are not always possible as Health and Safety requires a gap of up-to 3.5m to be maintained for passing vehicles. The large-sized machinery is also not ideal on a valley road.
Resurfacing is a non-starter during rain and the temperature has to be warmer than 5°C. The shorter daylight hours in winter have not helped either.
A county council spokesperson said they understood there had been disruption. “Our contractor, Metcalfe Plant Hire, are ensuring that all signage is accurate, visible, clear and concise and we want to encourage people to support local businesses throughout these road closures.”
Of the upcoming works, it said: “Unfortunately due to the works and the narrow road, traffic lights cannot be used to repair the road, and we will need to close the road completely. Businesses in Glenridding and Patterdale are open as usual. We thank the residents and businesses for their support and patience while we make these crucial road safety improvements.”
