A PUB owner has expressed his frustration at the planned closure of part of the main road between Hereford and Ledbury.

Charles Duncan, landlord of the Crown and Anchor in Lugwardine, is convinced more could have been done to aid surrounding companies, particularly by Herefordshire Council, while the works take place on the A438.

The road will be closed between the bridge over the River Lugg near Lugwardine and Netherwood Lane, opposite the Cock of Tupsley, from July 31 to August 25.

Mr Duncan said: “It’s going to be a disaster. I really think the council have done a poor job coming up with this and could have put a lot more thought into it.

“I know why the work is necessary but the way they’ve designed the flow of traffic to go is going to cause a huge problem.

“It’s going to be almost a month we lose and this road is the main road people use to get to us. It’s going to be a nightmare.

“We’ve looked at the routes and a one-way in, one-way out traffic flow system using Cotts Lane and Lumber Lane would make so much more sense.

“Cars are going to struggle passing each other on those narrow lanes and if any HGVs go down there it could cause a real problem.”

Western Power Distribution (WPD), the company responsible for the county’s electricity distribution, said work is needed to repair and strengthen the base of the road as part of a project to protect an electricity cable which supplies power to 8,000 people in Hereford.

Maps placed on WPD’s website outline an official diversion taking people out of Hereford on the Worcester road before turning south at Newtown Cross and then west at the Trumpet junction.

But Mr Duncan said locals have already come up with their own routes.

He added that staff have begun taking records of how many customers currently come into the pub.

He has only been at the pub for six months and hopes, with the help of his area manager, the pub can use these records to claim back any money they look to have lost due to the closure.

“There’s not a lot more we can do now,” he added.

“We’ve just got to sit back and watch it happen in front of our eyes.”

In a statement, Herefordshire Council said: “Balfour Beatty Living Places, on behalf of Herefordshire Council, has worked with Western Power Distribution to coordinate the essential maintenance work on the A438 at Lugwardine to address concerns regarding cables within the highway.

“The diversion route in place directs traffic onto the A4103 with access maintained to the Crown and Anchor via Cotts Lane. The works are being undertaken during the school holidays and crews will be working extended hours to complete the works as soon as possible.”