Newton Abbot trader creates blockade to protest at roadworks

A business owner has used a lorry to block access to a construction site in a protest over roadworks.

Anthony Joyner, managing director of Plants Galore in Newton Abbot, said he had taken action because the closure of the A382 would cause his business to “suffer”.

Mr Joyner said he received no response when he contacted Devon County Council to complain about a lack of signs saying businesses were open as normal so decided to block the contractors with a lorry.

Devon County Council said it had consulted on the planned 11-month closure of the A382 at Whitehills and signs had been installed throughout the day.

The council said the work was necessary to improve safety and ease congestion between Forches Cross and Stover.

Traders in Newton Abbot previously said they were “deeply concerned” about the closures.

Business owners issued pleas to say they were still “open for business” once work began on Thursday.

Mr Joyner said his protest would continue until traders got the support they had asked for.

“We have 25 vehicles and will park them around every morning until they can’t actually do anything and then maybe they’ll start to look after us and start giving us some support,” Mr Joyner said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said officers attended the site after being told a lorry had blocked access to a closure on Bovey Tracey Road, near Forches Cross.

Mr Joyner said there were supposed to be 28 signs out around the area to advertise businesses in the town were still open during the works, but “only four or five” had been put out so far.

“We’ve got almost 60 percent down on turnover already on the first day, no customers are coming to us,” he added.

Mr Joyner added: “Unless we get full support from Devon County Council and the road contractors…we are going to suffer and our employees are going to suffer”.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said a “comprehensive traffic management layout” had been agreed with local stakeholders before the closure.

They said most of the “businesses open as usual” signs were pre-installed overnight, with the remaining having been installed over the course of the day.

The spokesperson added: “This work was still ongoing when site staff discussed the issue with a local business owner earlier today and they have been working to install the remaining signs on the road network as well as updating electronic Variable Message Signs. Work on the project is continuing.”

The council said it would also like to remind people it had a “zero tolerance policy” against abuse of site staff and condemned abusive behaviour directed towards road workers.