‘I AM at a bit of a loss’, the owner of a Newton Abbot garden centre has said after learning of the possible closure of the A382 Bovey Road this autumn.

Tony Joyner, owner of Plants Galore, made the comments after finding out that the road could close in September.

The proposed closure is to allow the final phase of the A382 corridor improvement scheme.

‘We are very competitively priced, we are very cheap, very good at what we do and we are doing very well and all of a sudden this comes along’, said Tony.

‘What do they expect businesses to do?’, the business owner added.

It should be noted that the next phase of work is subject to Devon County Council (DCC) receiving funding from central government; the closure, therefore, may not go ahead.

But if DCC receive the required funding, it has said it is looking at a 12-month closure of the A382.

A Devon County Council spokesperson said: ‘We have been discussing with local businesses about a potential road closure that will be needed if we receive funding approval to develop the new Jetty Marsh link road and a new roundabout at Whitehills.

‘Subject to funding from the Department for Transport, we're aiming to start these improvements this autumn, which means the proposed closures have to be published at this stage, as roadworks have to be booked at least three months in advance.

‘If the project goes ahead, we're looking at a 12-month closure of the A382.

‘Traffic modelling has shown that closing the road will allow the length of the construction programme to be shortened and reduces impact on journey times.

‘Real time journey time information on a choice of diversion routes would be displayed on a number of variable messaging signs in the area, to give the travelling public information to plan their journeys.

‘However, the only potential closure planned for Ringslade Road is southbound, also for approximately 12 months.

‘It would remain open northbound (outbound).’

Phase 3 of the A382 corridor improvement scheme includes a new dual carriageway will be constructed between Drumbridges and Trago, widening of the A382 between Trago and Forches Cross, a new road between Whitehill Cross and West Golds Way and a shared pedestrian and cycle path.

Tony says he will likely have to lay off staff and cut back on his business’ plant growing program if the closure gets the go-ahead.

‘We grow three and a half million pounds worth of plants a year across our nurseries, we will have to cut back as we are not going to sell them, we don't even know what is happening - nobody is telling us’, says Tony.

Despite DCC saying it has been communicating with local businesses, Tony says there has been no communication.

‘Nobody has turned up here and said “This is what we are thinking of doing Tony, what can we do to help you?”’, Tony said.

‘We just want to run a business and sell some plants’, he added.

‘We paid £500,000 worth of corporation tax last year, between £1.5million and £2million worth of VAT and our thank you is - “We are not going to talk to you and we are just going to close the road”’, says Tony.

‘I am at a bit of a loss’, he added.