Three Oaks pub '˜losing business' due to road closures

Southern Water is installing a public sewage system and pumping station for environmental reasons with rolling roadworks.

The Three Oaks Inn licensee Samantha Bevan said the lack of passing trade and the inconvenience of diversions are taking their toll.

“Like today, we did three meals when usually we would have around 30-40 at lunchtime so there’s a bit of a knock-on effect,” she said.

“Bills still have to get paid and staff need their wages.

“At the moment we had a fairly good summer so it’s ticking over but how much longer can you keep going and that’s the main worry for us as a family.

“We’ve had the pub for about 14 years and you build up such a reputation that when it does come to next year when we’re done and dusted, when we’re on the main sewage system, we would have lost a lot of trade and will they come back?”

Southern Water began work about a month ago after eventually securing permission from East Sussex County Council following delays due to a legal issue.

Butchers Lane has been closed from the village hall to the Eight Acre Lane, with a diversion in place and access via Fourteen Acre Lane.

A Southern Water spokesman said: “Our top priority is always safety and we have set up a ‘rolling’ road closure along Butchers Lane so we can carry out the work.

“This is to ensure the safety of residents, road users and the workforce during the installation of the new sewer pipeline...

“Pedestrian access is being maintained at all times and we will try to allow vehicular access for residents, but this is dependent on health and safety constraints.”

Ms Bevan said the pub’s deliveries have had issues getting to the pub as well as other tradesmen, and she thinks people are put off coming to the pub because of the hassle.

“In this day and age you don’t want to waste your petrol on driving all the way around,” she said.

“We used to get a lot of trade from people at Coghurst Hall caravan park for meals but they don’t want to drive around the block.

“We are losing out a bit but hopefully it will sort itself out.”

Sunday was particularly bad as a crash in Guestling closed the A259 meaning many motorists were trying to go through Three Oaks, which caused havoc with the road closures.

“We’ve had snow days and power cuts better than that, the village was brought to a standstill as cars tried to get through,” Ms Bevan said.

Ms Bevan believes Southern Water could do more to tell the villagers when roads will be closed as they ‘have not been too impressed’ by them.

The Southern Water spokesman added: “We apologise for any inconvenience these works cause but will try to keep this to a minimum.

“We will continue to liaise with the local residents and businesses throughout the work.”

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