A BUSINESSMAN has estimated that he will lose £10,000 in revenue if major roadworks to a main trunk road are carried out in September rather than a month later.

Durham County Council plans to spend £400,000 on resurfacing the A689 between Stanhope and Eastgate in Weardale, carrying out the improvements between 9pm and 7am for a period of three weeks during that month.

The council said there was never a good time to close a road. But following consultation, it had agreed to put back the work from July and August to the middle of September. This would also avoid conflict with the final agricultural show of the year at Stanhope.

A spokeswoman for the council said that, technically, it was not possible to lay bituminous material any later than September because specified temperatures were needed to "cure" it.

But restaurant and pub owner Athol Graham, who runs the Cross Keys at Eastgate, felt the authority was "speaking with forked tongue". He added: "I cannot believe that night-time temperatures in September are higher than daytime ones in October, when the tourist season is over.

"I don't want to seem unreasonable, but the only industry left in this dale is tourism.

"Most of my wet sales are driven by food and diners will not relish being told to eat up by 8.45. I stand to lose about £10,000 when this closure goes ahead."

He also disputed the county's claim that the road was too narrow for traffic lights to be used, saying they were used on the first phase two years ago where the carriageway was the same width. Mr Graham said he was not the only complainant, with traders at St John's Chapel and Wearhead also concerned.

But the county council said it was mindful of the impact of road closures.

Diversion signs would direct eastbound traffic from Alston to Crook via the A686, A69 and A68 respectively, with the reverse route applying to westbound traffic. Locals will still be able to use the C74 road between Daddry Shield, Eastgate and Stanhope.