A PUB feared it would have to stop business after being told its road was closing for five weeks in the run-up to Christmas.

The Fox Inn in Bramdean, near Alresford, was told on Thursday, November 17 that the A272 would be partially closed for five weeks starting Monday, November 21.

The traffic management on the A272 Petersfield Road, between Broad Lane and Tithelands Lane, comes under 'Operation Resilience', a long-term strategy by Hampshire County Council to make the county's roads more weather resistant. The closure was supposed to be in place on weekdays between 9.30am until 4pm finishing on December 21.

Despite being able to remain open as usual, staff at The Fox said they were left “stressed” with the reduced access falling over their busiest period. The Fox’s landlord Peter Boxall described the announcement as a “nail in the coffin from the council”.

Peter’s daughter and pub supervisor, Josie Patrahau, said: “We wouldn’t have been able to make it through January, February and March and would have had to close completely. All the bills have increased. Electric alone has gone up from £750 a month to £520 a week.

“We were completely devastated and incredibly stressed having found out just a few days before. This is a business mum and dad have run and lived in for nine years and all the locals would have lost their pub.”

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After countless messages to the city and county councils, contractors and Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond, between finding out on Thursday and the road closure being enforced on Monday, the works have been postponed to the new year. The Fox Inn heard the news around midday on Tuesday, November 22, posting on Facebook: “Best news to hear for all local businesses!”

The A272 remains closed on one side for approximately a five-mile stretch between West Meon and Cheriton from Monday, November 21 to Friday, November 25 but the closure will then resume in January. Diversion signs are in place.

The county council’s executive member for highways operations, Cllr Nick Adams-king, said: “The highway improvements are required to alleviate a longstanding issue with inadequate surface water drainage. The works have been planned in a manner which provides the safest environment for the workforce to operate and to maintain the safety of highway users.

"However, following feedback from several businesses in the area, the element of the work which involved the closure of the A272 has been halted and rescheduled until the new year to minimise the impact on local seasonal trade. Other associated work in the area will remain in progress. As always, we will continue to explore alternative ways of delivering the outstanding planned work to ensure disruption can be kept to a minimum.”

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Josie, 31, added: “No time is ideal for access to be restricted but January is a little quieter anyway and we’re not missing out on our peak season. We’re hopeful we can now get the trade over Christmas to keep on running.”

However, the supervisor remains “annoyed” as ‘business as usual’ signs were neglected until the second day of the temporary restrictions.

As well as the pub other businesses such as a garage and the Hinton Arms could be impacted by the closure and diversions.