A BUSY road will be closed in stages over an eight week period, prompting anger from local businesses.

The A4103 which runs from Worcester to Hereford, will close from Storridge to Stiffords Bridge from Monday September 18 until Friday September 29.

In addition, the A4103 from Newton Cross to Fromes Hill will run from the same date until Monday October 2.

Businesses in the area have criticised the plans, stating that they have not been given enough warning and that it will impact on their trade.

Sue Lim, owner of Blue Ginger Gallery near the turning towards Cradley said: "I am steaming, quite a few businesses are going to be affected by this.

"Our business will be greatly hit as people will not come down the road, we were holding a charity event on September 24 for Acorns Children's Hospice as we do every year but I think we will have to cancel it.

"Even if the road is open at weekends, there is nothing to say it will be useable.

"We will lose all customers for 10 days and it is difficult to get them back.

"The signs were put out on Sunday night and we had a letter through the door this morning (Wednesday) it is nowhere near enough notice.

"It is great that the road is getting repaired but they (the council) should have worked with businesses to check when is the best time."

Steve Moorman, who took over the Red Lion pub at Stiffords Bridge earlier this year, said he fears the road works will hit his trade.

He said: “I’m kind of speechless. We’ve only recently opened up and then this week we get a notice saying the carriageways are going to be closed to allow this work to be carried out.

“It starts on September 18, so they’ve only given us two weeks’ notice which is hardly anything. It’s really going to hit our business because people will be avoiding the road.”

Work will be carried out from 8am until 6pm each week day, with no work being carried out over the weekend.

Sections of the road will be closed during an eight week period, although the road will not be closed for the whole time.

The programme for October has not yet been announced.

Julia Lawrence works control manager at Balfour Beatty said: "We have deliberately broken the work down into sections so as to reduce disruption where possible and whilst we will have the diversion route in place, hopefully local residents will use their own local knowledge to take short cuts."

A Herefordshire County Council spokesman said: "“Following the successful £5million bid to the Department for Transport’s Challenge Fund, Herefordshire Council and Balfour Beatty Living Places will be undertaking major resurfacing works over the next six months.

“The maintenance works will take place on the A4103 Hereford to Worcester road, the A465 Hereford to Abergavenny road, and the A438 Hereford to Brecon road.

"Advanced road closure signage will be in place a minimum of 7 days in advance of works, and diversion routes will be signed during the period that each section of these roads are closed.

"Work on several sites along the A4103 will begin on 18 September and will be restricted to 8am-6pm. There will be no weekend closures, and roads will be fully open to minimise the disruption as far as possible to residents and businesses.

“Herefordshire Council and Balfour Beatty Living Places would like to thank the public and businesses in anticipation of their understanding of what will be an unprecedented programme of resurfacing work that will deliver a real improvement in the condition of these key routes across Herefordshire.

"Road works will not be undertaken over the weekend so the charity event will be unaffected."