FIRMS affected by the closure of one of Purbeck’s busiest arteries have accused county chiefs of riding roughshod over their businesses.

J T Commercials Van and Truck Centre, and neighbouring Cribb Tyre and Battery have both lost up to 40 per cent of trade since the A351 Wareham Road was closed though Holton Heath for essential maintenance last month.

The traders say they are losing thousands of pounds and have slammed Dorset County Council for giving them just one week’s notice of the five-week closure then offering no compensation.

Paul Cribb, of family business Cribb Tyre and Battery, said: “We’ve been here for 27 years and at the moment we’re struggling.

“We’ve lost all our passing trade through this, which we rely on.

“The end of the road is blocked off and people are turning round and presuming we’re closed – there’s supposed to be a guy down there to open up the cones so traffic can get to us, but he’s not always there.

“We’ve got five staff to pay and if this was to carry on much longer, we’d be in trouble.”

The county council has a statutory duty to maintain the highway, which includes the closing of roads, so the businesses are unlikely to receive any recompense.

Mr Cribb said he was only informed of the closure one week before work commenced, while Vince Tarr, of J T Commercials, said: “We received a letter six days before. They must have known for ages about this work – the lack of warning was unbelievable.

“At least with time we may have been able to get some advertising out there letting customers know what was going on.

“The A351 is our shop window for van sales. The council has effectively brought the shutter down. Business is down by 40 per cent and we’ve six members of staff to pay.

“If this goes on much longer we are looking at redundancies.”

Both businesses wanted to thank customers who have supported with them throughout the works.

A County Council spokesman said: “All claims for compensation will be assessed individually. The county council has a statutory duty to maintain the highway under the Highways Act 1980.

“The council is permitted to take steps to allow for the maintenance of the highways, which includes the closing of roads when necessary.

“We are only able to make payment when the council is in breach of its legal duties and when such a breech has led to a loss.”

The spokesman confirmed the work, publicised through road signs and online 2-3 weeks beforehand, is due to end on October 22.