BUSINESSES in a North Somerset village have been ‘marooned’ during a fortnight of ‘horrendous’ roadworks.

Owners of Hutton Garden Centre, the Waterfall Café and Weston Garden Machinery in Banwell Road, Hutton, say their shops have been inaccessible during the works.

Waterfall Café owner Iris Oxley said: “It has been horrendous.

“I hate to think how much money has been lost among us all. Customers are trying to get through but are being turned away. It has been absolutely dead.

“On Monday nobody could get through Hutton Hill, nobody could go through Elborough because it was being Tarmacked, and The Bury was shut. A customer was coming to see me and he was told the only way was through Hutton but he was stopped at Hutton Hill.

“We have been marooned totally. All three access points are closed – I am at a loss to know what to do.”

North Somerset Council announced plans to close a number of roads in the area a fortnight ago, in order to carry out repairs to the road surface.

A council spokesman said: “Due to the location of the works it was not possible to let all traffic simply drive into a live site, which is why we have the traffic marshals to advise on access arrangements.”

But Mrs Oxley claims the council contractors working at the site also veered from their original planned schedule, and said: “It is total confusion and it is not good for business. It is very frustrating.”

A council spokesman said: “On Monday, we were working outside of the garden centre, from the junction with Cedern Avenue to the junction with Canada Coombe.

“This was a change to the original programme and the original plan was to work from The Bury to the junction with Canada Coombe; unfortunately this was changed on Friday and a letter was sent out to local residents and the parish clerk to reflect this.

“The traffic marshals on site were allowing traffic through to the garden centre and local businesses where the work allowed.”