Businesses angry over bypass roadworks uncertainty

3 hours ago

Richard SteadNorth West

News image — Angela Goodman, 51, from Prestige Dog Grooming says the traffic congestion has led to cancellations

BBC Photograph of Angela Goodman from Hollingworth. The image shows the 51 year-old in the garden of her home, where she runs her Prestige Dog Grooming business. — Angela Goodman, 51, from Prestige Dog Grooming says the traffic congestion has led to cancellations

Some businesses have said a "lack of communication" over construction work on a bypass in Greater Manchester has meant they have lost bookings.

Major roadworks will take place on the Mottram bypass scheme over two weekends in March, which means the A57 will be reduced to a single lane.

The initial plan was to fully close the road, which led many businesses to reschedule appointments as they "expected bedlam" and they said their livelihoods had been affected by the uncertainty.

National Highways apologised for the disruption but said the work was essential for the scheme.

Earlier this year, the organisation said there would be a full road closure of Motrram Moor over three weekends in March and many local firms had prepared for significant disruption.

Angela Goodman, who runs Prestige Dog Grooming in Hollingworth, said: "I work on two hours per dog, so the existing traffic congestion has meant I have had to cancel dogs, then catch up in the evenings and at weekends".

"My customers book six to eight weeks in advance, so I've already rescheduled appointments to avoid the weekend closures which now aren't happening", added the 51 year-old.

Phototgraph of Mohamed Abdelaziz. He is pictured inside the Bianco Italian restaurant in Hollingworth. — Mohamed Abdelaziz, who runs the Bianco Italian restaurant in Hollingworth, says the traffic can affect customers turning up

The A57 Link Roads scheme will mean strengthening all four carriageways of Mottram Moor, so heavy lorries can cross from one side of the road to the other.

The wagons will carry thousands of tonnes of earth, which will be excavated when the bypass is built and then used to create an embankment for the Glossop Spur.

The road will now stay open while the work is carried out, with one carriageway in each direction over two weekends.

Many businesses told BBC Radio Manchester that the uncertainty over the timing and extent of the roadworks had led to cancellations.

National Highways Drone photograph of Roe Cross Road in Mottram, The image show the raod has been diverted before an underpass is built. — Roe Cross Road in Mottram has been diverted on the A57 Link Roads scheme, to allow an underpass to be built.

Mohamed Abdelaziz, who runs the Bianco Italian restaurant in Hollingworth, said: "The traffic does affect the business in terms of recruiting staff, cancellation of bookings and customers not turning up.

"Many times I have thought about closing down but my problem is communication - if the roadworks are done properly, then I can survive."

Andrew Scatchard from National Highways, the senior project manager on the A57 link roads scheme, said: "We regularly review our programme of construction activities and we have been able to reduce from three full weekend closures to two partial closures."

Phototgraph of Andrew Scatchard from National Highways. He is pictured on the construction site of the Mottram Bypass. — Andrew Scatchard is the senior project manager at National Highways on the A57 link roads scheme

"We have regular contact with local people and we apologise for the disruption this will cause but the work is essential for the scheme," Scratchard added.

The roadworks will take place from 19:00 GMT until 06:00 on Monday 16 March, and between the same times during the following weekend.

James Cottam, 31, who runs the Hiking Hounds dog walking business in Hollingworth, said: "I've had to cancel weekend pet-sits during March, expecting it to be bedlam.

"The traffic is beyond frustrating, I'm a sole trader and I've a family to feed, so if I'm losing money, that puts me in a very difficult position."

Photograph of James Cottam, who runs the Hiking Hounds dog walking business in Hollingworth. He is pictured in front of his van. — James Cottam, 31, from Hiking Hounds dog walking, says the traffic is "beyond frustrating"

The A57 Link Roads scheme is designed to take traffic travelling between Manchester and Sheffield away from the village of Mottram in Longdendale.

Local people had campaigned for the road for decades, although the scheme which is being built does not include a bypass for the villages of Hollingworth and Tintwistle.

National Highways A graphic showing the A57 Link Roads scheme. The map shows the road will bypass the village of Mottram in Longdendale. — The A57 Link Roads scheme will bypass the village of Mottram in Longdendale.

Construction of the bypass is set to be completed during the winter of 2028/29.

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