Road closure leads to 'dramatic' drop in customers

Two village businesses say long-running roadworks are badly affecting their livelihoods.

The Twenty Pence Garden Centre and the Flame bar and restaurant in Wilburton, near Ely, both said they have had to lay off staff.

The B1049 Twenty Pence Road to Cottenham, Histon and Cambridge was closed by Anglian Water (AW) on 6 January and will be shut until March.

AW said the road had to close "to keep everyone safe" during essential work to upgrade pipes because of the "size of the area and the machinery involved".

Jon Collins, the garden centre manager, said it had seen a dramatic drop in footfall with takings 30% down.

"Our restaurant has suffered, there has been a lot more wastage with food because we just haven't had the customers," he said.

He added many customers phone up thinking they cannot get down the road at all so "maybe the signage is a bit misleading".

"Weekend staff have had some of their hours cut due to the garden centre being so quiet," Collins said, adding the business was in talks with AW over possible compensation.

Harsha Makwana has run the Flame Indian restaurant and bar with her husband Dinesh since January 2025.

She said the business has had to lay off staff and she was worried about the future.

"We normally are fully booked on Fridays and Saturdays, but now we are only half full.

"Customers used to come from Cottenham and Histon but can't get to us so easily now with the road closed," she said.

Makwana said the couple were considering selling up or leasing it out.

She said it was a "big worry" to have a three-month road closure.

Dinesh Makwana said he would be also contacting Anglian Water about possible compensation.

An AW spokesperson said: "We're replacing 2.6km (1.6 miles) of pipe on Twenty Pence Road that has come to the end of its working life.

"Doing this now means we can prevent bursts, emergency closures and bigger problems later.

"It also helps improve water pressure locally, and reduces the risk of leaks and unplanned interruptions.

"To keep everyone safe, we have needed to close the road while we work.

"This is the only safe option under the Street Works Act because of the size of the working area and the machinery involved."

AW said it had worked with Cambridgeshire County Council to agree the closure, diversion routes and signage.

Its spokesperson thanked road users, residents and business owners for their patience.

They added AW did offer compensation for businesses that experienced financial loss as a direct result of its work.

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