A TEMPORARY bridge closure could put traders out of business in a North-East town, it is feared.

The County Bridge, which is the main route for tourists into Barnard Castle, County Durham, is expected to close for five days during the school half term, from tomorrow (Monday, October 27), while essential repairs are made to the gas mains.

Barnard Town Council had a majority vote in favour of the closure at this time to reduce the disruption to the schools, but businesses say it will be disastrous for them as they will lose the last of the summer tourism trade.

They also claim they were never consulted about the decision.

Secretary of the Barnard Castle Business Guild and owner of Shirl's Shakes, Neil Stokell, said the disruption to the 110 guild members outweighed that to the schools and added that tourists were more likely to avoid the town than local drivers who had more knowledge of alternative routes.

He said: “The October half term week is the last trading week until Christmas and is also the last holiday week with the caravan parks so it will affect the tourist traffic coming in - we cannot understand the rationale behind it.

“If essential work has to be done it has got to be done, but the thing that annoyed the businesses was that we found out about it second-hand just by someone saying something in the street – no one has said come in and be part of the decision making process.”

He added: “The businesses can handle a week loss in winter time but if trading is down anyway, then it could just be the thing that tips you over the edge."

Owner of The Golden Lion, Sandra Wilkinson, added: “We as a town depend a lot on the caravan parks which are the other side of the bridge so it’s going to be a nightmare.

“This is the last attempt before Christmas and this is the kind of time where you make your money to tide you over before that Christmas rush and they have just completely pulled the rug from under us.”

Town clerk Michael King defended the decision to support the county council’s suggested closure dates. which were put forward by Councillor Richard Bell.

He said: “There’s never a good time to close county bridge but they recognised Richard Bell’s suggestion was a helpful compromise."

Brian Buckley, the county council’s strategic highways manager, added: “Following discussions with Northern Gas Network and consultation with Cllr Richard Bell and the Town Council, the consensus was that the impact of the disruption was likely to be lower during the half term week when traffic tends to be lighter.”