Hampshire County Council slammed by traders for planning roadworks on Brookley Road, Brockenhurst, during two bank holidays

A roadworks “bombshell” is set to hit Brockenhurst traders with the seven-week closure of its high street.

Shop owners have hit out at the recently announced closure of Brookley Road – from 22nd April to 13th June for repairs, drainage work and installing a speed bump – saying it will be devastating for their livelihoods.

Parish councillors also shared their “profound disappointment and dismay” over the work, despite “significant” objections.

Nick Munnik, who has run Village Veg for 17 years, fears the work will mean traders miss out on two vital bank holiday weekends of business.

He said: “This was supposed to be done in spring or autumn to lessen the impact on trade, and will now mean a huge loss of income for businesses during the early May bank holiday and spring bank holiday. The council dropped this bombshell with no warning.

“Another kicker is the county said it will compensate NFDC for the loss of car park takings but there’s been no such pledge for businesses.

“These works will take place over two bank holidays, probably our busiest times of year except for Christmas, but the county has given no plan of action for the works.

“There’s no word on how businesses will be able to get bulk deliveries or how emergency services will access the high street if they need to. The council’s picked the stupidest time to do this.”

Steve Jose, who runs the Bakehouse, says the work could be a sign of plans to try to pedestrianise Brockenhurst’s high street, with proposals to create a “raised section” of highway for community events.

He told the A&T: “The county did a survey in 2022 asking, ‘do you want us to tart up the village?’ which of course we do, but not at the height of summer.

“We’ve only just found out the council has signed a contract to close the road and car parks for works, and it will cause all sorts of chaos.

“The whole thing is crazy. It seems to be more about beautifying the pavement outside Tesco. They’re putting in a speed bump but we don’t have those kinds of traffic issues – it’s a little high street.”

He continued: “My fear is we’re sleepwalking into pedestrainising the high street. The parish council has been blindsided by this like lambs to the slaughter.

“We don’t have the kind of high street that needs pedestrianisation – we have a butcher, baker, chemist, florist, but that’s not what pedestrian areas need, they need pubs and cafes.”

Liz Chislett-Milne who has been running Grovely Pets in the village for six years slammed the management and timing of the work.

“The council’s project manager refused to meet all of us business owners together,” she said. “They don’t care about the impact on our businesses and they made it clear they’re going to do the work anyway.

“This is all down to county council incompetence – they didn’t secure contractors in time to do the work early this year as they said they would, so they’re now squeezing it in during May so they don’t see their budgets reduced next year.

“I’ve asked the council what the business case is for these works and got no response. There’s been no health and safety assessment.

“I asked how businesses will get their goods delivered and was told the plan is to send lorries up The Rise.

“When I asked how those lorries will be able to back up and get back out I was told there will be a banksman there all day to help – I just don’t believe it. What happens if one of the businesses catches fire? How would they get a fire engine there?”

Lyn Godden, membership secretary for Brockenhurst Bowling Club, says the work could spell the end for the club.

“We’re located at the rear of the road’s car park with access from there and we’ve got a legal right of access to three spaces,” she said. “These works will affect all our scheduled league matches for the summer. We’ve got players coming from all over the country and it’s a big money spinner for us.

“We have events where bowls equipment manufacturers come to sell goods and we get a bit of commission – it’s all up in the air now.

“Many of the visiting clubs arrive in coaches – how are they supposed to get here?

“I’m not exaggerating when I say we could lose our club over this. If we can’t attract new members and visitors, and we have to mess about with our league match dates, we could find the club no longer exists in five years’ time.”

Brockenhurst Parish Council chair Cllr Russell Horne stated: “We understand abandoning the scheme may incur costs (for the county) and risks related to funding timelines.

“However, local businesses are already facing severe pressures in the present economic climate. They’ve expressed deep concerns the disruption caused by the works will have a serious effect on trading during a normally busy period and result in long-term changes in consumer behaviour, with some worrying they will not survive.”

In response, a Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: “This is essential work to repair the highway surface water drainage system.

“Improvements will be made to make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle to shops and services (and) include the creation of a raised area in the centre of the village suitable for community events to take place.

“The work is currently expected to take around seven weeks and will require the temporary closure of a 25-metre section of Brookley Road.

“However, access for pedestrians will remain at all times, and vehicles will continue to have limited access to the road from either end.

“We are always mindful of the potential impacts of roadworks in a busy area like this and we do all we can to help businesses plan, and keep disruption to a minimum.

“In this case, the work must be undertaken during warmer months to be effective, the timing will avoid the Easter and summer period.”

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