THE closure of the busy A49 in Cotebrook due to a burst water main is causing chaos for motorists and businesses.
Repair work on the underground pipes was being carried out on Wednesday and the road was refilled, resurfaced and reopened on Thursday.
The burst was reported to United Utilities on Tuesday morning and by 5pm the A49 Tarporley Road was closed at The Alvanley Arms and Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre up to the A54.
Centre owner Janet King said the closure was ‘disastrous’ for her business as the summer holidays is their busiest period.
However she stressed that it was ‘business as usual’ because visitors could still get to the centre from the direction of the A51 roundabout, despite several road closure signs along the A49.
“It’s our busiest time of the year with the children being off and it’s the week leading up to Bank Holiday Monday," said Mrs King, who runs the centre with her husband Alistair.
“The six-week period increases our business 20 to 30-fold. We rely on it getting us through the winter months.
“We’ve already had people ringing up asking if we are open, but that’s only a handful. We have people that travel from up to two hours away.”
The water supply had to be switched off at both the centre and The Alvanley Arms on Wednesday.
Richard Cotterill, director of The Fox and Barrel pub further down the road, said their supply was not affected but trade had been.
“It’s not doing us any favours. It’s been quiet for much of the day,” he explained.
A United Utilities spokesperson said: “The A49 in Tarporley reopened on Thursday morning, following completion of water pipe repairs and reinstatement of the road. Our apologies once again to motorists for the inconvenience."
