RESIDENTS and business owners have expressed concerns that additional roadworks on a landslip-hit main road will hamper commuters and have a negative impact on trade.

The A67 has been closed at Carlbury, between Piercebridge and High Coniscliffe, near Darlington, as repair work is carried out following a landslide early last year.

Nearly 400 metres of unstable embankment and road are being secured by the £2.4m year-long project.

But next week it will also be closed between Merrybent and High Coniscliffe – meaning further delays and diversions.

Noel Hollis, a 34-year-old teaching assistant from High Coniscliffe, said: “People will have to make extended journeys just to get to work or drop their children off at school.

“I feel trapped in the village. The new diversion will be down a very narrow lane – there is hardly enough room for one vehicle and it is potentially lethal.

“I will have to drive an extra 70 miles per week due to the new diversion and my wife has been doing a ten-mile diversion every day since February.

“It is shocking. We have not been given a voice to discuss this matter at all. I have contacted the planning department three times but they still have not got back to me.

“I think it is appalling. They should at least be listening to people.”

Stephen Grabham, 57, landlord of The Spotted Dog, said: “The road closure has certainly affected my business.

“Our lunchtime trade has been completely wiped out. We would usually expect to do around 30 covers but today I am stood in a completely empty pub. Luckily we have a loyal customer base in the evenings.

“The problem is that there is a big sign saying the road is closed, even though you can still come down it. I have seen plenty of people turning around and the pub frequently get calls from customers asking if they can get to us.

“I have had to spend money on new adverts that say you can still get to the pub. With the new closure I feel like giving up.

“The council is being very vague on whether they will provide any compensation, even though they will be closing the road in both directions.”

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: “The section has been identified as needing essential resurfacing works.

“We are carrying out the works at this time as traffic levels are comparatively light due to the closure for the landslip. The works were originally programmed to take place over the half term break, however, the surfacing contractors were unavailable.”

The road will be closed between Tuesday, November 4, and Friday, November 7. A three-mile diversion will be in place and the road will be reopened each evening.