A MAJOR route into Bellingham has been cut off for repair works, causing mixed feelings among local business owners.

The B6320 over Bellingham Tyne Bridge is currently closed from 9am until 3pm on weekdays for refurbishment.

This means that those travelling from the south must instead go via Lanehead and past Hesleyside – a diversion of over eight miles.

Northumberland County Council said that the work affecting the road is scheduled to be completed by February 10, while the remaining work is scheduled to be finished by mid-February. The work includes repairing masonry and re-pointing, as well as resurfacing works.

A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: “From this week we are using equipment which will not leave sufficient room for vehicles to pass. Off-peak closures will therefore continue but a shuttle bus is being provided for local school children.”

Some businesses feel they have been negatively affected by the closure.

Elisabeth Freeman-Bradley, owner of gift shop New Horizons, said: “It is hard enough to get people to come into the village in the first place. Lots of customers have been complaining about it and how it affects them – it makes life a bit harder.”

Local butcher Hugh Thompson said: “Going through the period after Christmas it is always the quietest time, but it is very very quiet.

“There is uncertainty over whether people can get across the bridge so people might not bother coming back up.”

But Charlotte Brown, one of the owners of Bellingham Country Store, said: “We haven’t seen an effect; this is a quiet time of year anyway. We should be thinking ourselves lucky that it is happening now rather than in the summer months when there are more people around.”