Pinchbeck roadworks delay leaves garden centre facing Easter disruption

A further delay to roadworks in Pinchbeck has brought fresh frustration for a Lincolnshire business facing one of its busiest trading periods of the year. Surfleet Road, which has been shut during work linked to connecting a housing estate to utilities, had been expected to reopen earlier this month. That date then moved to the end of March, but Lincolnshire County Council now says the closure is likely to remain in place until at least 17 April.

For Birchgrove Garden Centre, the prolonged disruption has created a difficult run-up to Easter, a key time for sales as customers look for plants, garden supplies and seasonal items. The closure has left the business effectively cut off from the town, with visitors facing a 7.5-mile diversion. Managing director Gary Slator described the latest setback as an "utter nightmare" and said the timing could hardly be worse.

He said the uncertainty was making it hard to plan stock, raising questions over whether to order in more plants at all as the bank holiday approaches. Mr Slator said the business could lose £20,000 over the Easter weekend compared with previous years, underlining the impact that lengthy road closures can have on independent firms in Lincolnshire market towns and villages, where passing trade and easy access are often vital. The county council said Burmor Construction, the company carrying out the work, is being fined £2,000 a day because of the overrun.

The authority's traffic manager, Ashley Behan, said the road had been closed for 87 days, which he acknowledged was far too long. He said it was in nobody's interest for the route to stay shut any longer than necessary and added that the council expected work to be completed between 17 and 19 April. Checks were also expected to make sure activity continued over the bank holiday weekend.

The scheme has drawn attention not only because of the delays themselves, but because of the wider effect on daily life in the area. For residents, shoppers and local businesses, roadworks on key routes can quickly become more than a traffic issue, especially when closures stretch across weeks and then months. Burmor Construction previously apologised for the delays.

Director Luke Boekstyn said natural ground conditions, including groundwater and running silts, had made the job very difficult. He said the firm was disappointed that extra time had been needed. For now, businesses and motorists in this part of South Holland are left waiting for the promised reopening date to hold.

With Easter trade hanging in the balance for one local garden centre, the hope will be that this latest timetable finally brings the long-running disruption on Surfleet Road to an end.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.