Road closure 'devastating' local trade in Lostwithiel

Traders in a Cornish town say a road closure caused by a collapsed wall threatens the future of their businesses.

The closure means vehicles and pedestrians are unable to pass through Lostwithiel's shopping area.

The wall on Church Lane collapsed into Fore Street in February after heavy rain.

Cornwall Council said it was doing all it could to facilitate access.

The local authority said the collapsed wall was privately owned and insured.

Tom Watts, who has run his business in Fore Street for 17 years, said: "It's been devastating for Lostwithiel, for all shops, all independent shops, and I think it's gone completely over the top with health and safety with this road closed.

"For it to continue like this, businesses will fail, they can't carry on like this."

Hayley Toms, who runs her local shop Lillyboo, said her trade had been impacted significantly by the closure.

She said: "I would say 60, 70% of my sales are passing trade, and that's dropped to about 2%.

"Yesterday, we made £7.50, and I employ a team here."

Local business owner Alice Collyer said the town had been "cut in half" by the road closure.

She said: "My business is hugely noticeably down, I know other businesses within the town are reporting that they're 60% down.

"It's essential that people come out and support us now in our time of need."

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: "The building owner's surveyors have been working to arrange for structural scaffolding and we understand they plan to have that in place shortly, after which it may be possible to safely reopen Fore Street.

"In the meantime, we've made significant changes to the usual road layouts in this area to allow access to the top and lower end of Fore Street."

The council added it had set up traffic management and was doing everything it could to facilitate access, and to keep the public safe.

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