Road diversion of 24 miles will 'devastate' trade

From the BBC^» British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

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Gemma Robinson said she does not want a big chunk of compensation from Network Rail, but just enough support to survive the next nine months

A 24-mile diversion around a village in Nottinghamshire will devastate small businesses, owners have said.

The A6006 Rempstone Road, in Sutton Bonington, will have a section closed by Network Rail for reconstruction work to the Kirk Hill bridge between Monday and 20 July 2026.

Nottinghamshire County Council planned the diversion route on behalf of Network Rail and said it was designed to protect village residents from a large volume of diverted traffic.

Gemma Robinson, who runs Dolly's Coffee Corner, on the Hathernware Industrial Estate, off the A6006, has said she stands to lose almost all of her trade and the situation is a "nightmare".

"People will find a closer coffee shop... who would drive those miles to come around, it's going to be really, really tough," Ms Robinson said.

The main diversion route around the closure will be from the A6006 Rempstone Road, A60, Clifton Lane, Remembrance Way, A453, Kegworth Bypass, A6 and A6006 Rempstone Road, and vice versa

Kirk Hill bridge will be dismantled to make way for the potential electrification of the Midland Mainline, despite that project being paused in the summer by the Department for Transport (DfT^» ).

The main diversion route around the closure will be the A6006 Rempstone Road, A60, Clifton Lane, Remembrance Way, A453, Kegworth Bypass, A6, A6006 Rempstone Road, and vice versa. It will be enforced by the closure of village roads which could be used as shortcuts - including Hungary Lane, Landcroft Lane, Dark Lane, Brickyard Lane and Butt Lane.

Network Rail said this would be done through the use of "concrete barriers" which will have a 1.25-metre gap to allow access for pedestrians, cyclists and horses.

Ms Robinson, 38, said: "It's going to hit big time, I've got about 85% of my customers coming from that side [of the bridge], where soon they'll have to do a massive detour to get to me." She acknowledged that the work was necessary, and did not completely oppose it, but fears that her business would not be around to see it completed.

Charles Coleman said the planned closure had left him with a "sour taste"

Charles Coleman, who owns Colemans Auto Repair Services, also on Hathernware Industrial Estate, has said the closure threatens his livelihood too.

The 27-year-old set up his own business four months ago after being made redundant from his previous job. He has already been told by his suppliers that they will be limiting deliveries, which will make it harder to get parts to fulfil repairs and maintenance. The length of the diversion also means that customers may find garages closer to home, he said.

Network Rail said the bridge upgrade would "future proof" the railway in Sutton Bonington

Meanwhile, Jane Blower who helps run the village post office, said some customers who live in nearby villages, had told her they would not come in while the work was ongoing. "It's going to cause a lot of inconvenience, it's a long way around for the diversion," she said. "We're trying very hard to keep the post office going and these things just seem to be going against us all the time."

Businesses have asked Network Rail about compensation due to the potential financial impact during the closure.

The operator said it was publicly funded to maintain and upgrade the railway, and that it could not provide compensation unless "negligence has caused personal injury or damage to property directly from their equipment. We will continue to meet regularly with businesses and provide support where possible while the work is taking place," it said.

Kirk Hill bridge will be demolished on Christmas Day, before construction of the new bridge starts in mid-February next year

County councillor Stuart Matthews, portfolio holder for finance and resources, said the aim of the diversion route was to "alleviate as much pressure as we can". He said: "Residents don't want to be stuck in a road for three hours taking their children to school or going to work."

He added that transport companies "won't want to be stuck" on a road that is blocked for hours, and would instead prefer the long diversion route. "This is going to be a headache for everybody," he said, "but Nottinghamshire County Council are here to help everybody; that's our job."

Rail travellers face disruption on Saturday and Sunday when the Flying Arch bridge, in Sutton Bonington, is demolished as part of the same scheme.

The (DfT) announced in July it would be pausing the electrification of the Midland Mainline to focus investment on other schemes. An agreement was reached with the department to proceed with the demolition so the line is ready for electrification and the installation of overhead line equipment if the project resumes in the future.