BUSINESSES have been forgotten in a thoughtless' road closure, claims hotel boss Jenny Simmonds.

Mrs Simmonds of The Manor Hotel in West Bexington is furious that road closure signs just appeared without warning or consultation at the end of the road on Tuesday.

She said the district council is repairing the beach car park but there is no need to close the road.

She said: "This couldn't have come at a worse time. We won a silver award for Taste of the West at the weekend which we worked really hard for and being quite news that's quite an achievement. With the lovely weather today we would have expected to be busy but the first we knew about it was a delivery driver ringing up and asking if he could get through because the road was closed. He said all the cars at the top of the road were just turning around and going away again.

"Yesterday we were full and today it's empty. They never told us they were going to close the road.

"They have put bollards up and access to residents only signs up - I think they have forgotten all about the businesses down here.

"We pay more than £1,000 a month rates here. They did this last year at this time of year and being really new then we nearly didn't survive and now they've done it again.

"It is just so careless, they just haven't thought, it is almost laughable. If people see road closed signs, especially the elderly they just won't drive down here."

West Dorset District Council's Principal Engineer Nick Browning said: "The district council is spending £150,000 to provide 30 extra parking spaces and coast protection at West Bexington car park. The work is being carried out now to avoid the tourist season and after consultation with local residents, businesses and the parish council.

"When the council publicised the car park's temporary closure for this work, it also announced that access to the Manor Hotel and Beach Café would remain open and asked visitors not to park along Beach Road as it would be used to deliver very large machinery. Unfortunately parking has occurred along this single track lane so when a crane and heavy engineering supplies were delivered on Tuesday, the contractor put up temporary signs that the road was only available for use by residents.

"These signs were removed later that day and I apologise for any inconvenience. New signs have been erected.

"Access to property and businesses in Beach Road remains open but we would ask people not park in Beach Road as there will some very large machinery visiting the site."