North Allington to be closed for a month for sewer works

A 650-metre section of North Allington, between its junction with West Street and its junction with Hospital Lane, will be closed in both directions for sewer works between Monday, February 8 and Friday, March 12.

Simon Holland, who runs Washingpool Farm Shop and Café with his wife Victoria, is worried about the closure.

He said: "This is going to have a quite a serious detrimental impact on our business.

"We were angry when we found out the works were being carried out as it will have a knock-on effect to how many people can access our shop and, in this uncertain time, it is frustrating to risk losing more business.

"However, we appreciate that the work needs doing and as there is less traffic right now it seems like a sensible time."

The farm shop is offering customers using their click-and-collect service the option of picking up their goods from Bridport Football Club car park if they are unable to access the shop due to the sewer works.

Richard Cox, owner of Saturn Removals, runs his business from an office on North Allington. He is hoping the road closure will not impact him.

He said: "I had a letter from Wessex Water saying that I will be able to access my office throughout the sewer works so I hope they won't be too much of a problem.

"If I am unable to get to my property and park my vehicle then that will be very frustrating and I will contact Wessex Water to ask them to pay for my parking elsewhere. Hopefully that doesn't happen."

A 15-mile diversion route will be put in place so drivers can avoid the road closure. The route, which uses the same class of road as North Allington, a B-Road, will take drivers across west Dorset and will take approximately 30 minutes to follow the 24.5 kilometre route.

Alternatively, there are a number of shorter but unofficial routes that drivers can take to avoid the road closure.

A spokesman for Wessex Water said: "We'll be carrying out sewer rehabilitation work with a closure and diversion necessary for the safety of road users and our workforce.

"We're sorry for any delays to essential journeys. This won't affect our customers' water or sewerage services."

Councillor Julian Jones, representing Bridport north, said: "The roadworks are certainly going to create a bit of inconvenience for people, however, as a Green councillor I would say that a lot of people could easily walk or cycle and leave their cars at home.

"It will obviously cause disruption to people who are unable to walk or cycle so for them it will be tricky but there are diversions in place.

"Now is a good time to carry out the works as people should only be leaving their house for essential reasons so there should be less people driving anyway."

Bus services affected 

BRIDPORT Town Council has warned that bus services will be affected by the North Allington road closure.

Town clerk Will Austin said: “The council understands the need for these essential works to Bridport’s sewerage system, and we are liaising with Wessex Water to seek the least possible disruption.

"We have asked that signs are put in place to show – at any given time – the extent of any road closure so that motorists are advised which parts of the road are not accessible.

“The company has provided us with a timetable and plan of the works. Bus services will be affected and the operators will be publishing any revisions.”

Bus changes:
6A Broadoak – Beaminster (to serve Broadoak and Salwayash, then divert to Beaminster School, via the B3162 and B3163) - Unable to serve North Allington

6A Salwayash – Beaminster (to start/finish at Bridport West Street, then to serve Bradpole, Melplash, Netherbury to Beaminster School) - Unable to serve North Allington

6 Bridport – Beaminster/Yeovil (to start/finish at Bridport Coach Station) - Unable to serve Bridport Community Hospital and North Allington

For bus timetable info see www.bridport-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/N-ALL-2021.pdf