THE owner of a popular independent restaurant says they’ve been left in the dark over an upcoming scheme of roadworks.

East Bridge, in East Street, Colchester, will close next weekend, and the one after, whilst the crumbling road is resurfaced.

Closures will be in place 24 hours a day from 7pm on the Friday to 5am on Monday, with buses and through traffic being diverted.

Darren Lisney, owner of The Old Siege House Bar and Brasserie in East Street, said the first his business heard of the works was when they were revealed in the Gazette.

With 70 customers booked in for next weekend, he wasn't sure whether he was going to be able to open the business.

Mr Lisney, who opened the restaurant seven-years-ago, said: “Everyone has been notified it is a complete closure and there will be no cars which are able to use the road.

"We have had customers asking if we are closing these weekends and we don’t know what to tell them.

“I have tried everything to get hold of Essex Highways to get some answers but nothing has worked.

“People have been told to park at Priory Street but a lot of our customers will not be willing to walk down from there.”

Gazette:

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The latest set of roadworks is another blow for the beleaguered business, which has just faced 18 months of intermittent closures due to Covid restrictions.

Mr Lisney said: “This is another thing for us to worry about. First we had the Brook Street traffic lights debacle then Ipswich Road.

“Whilst that was still going on we were hit by Covid and now just when we think things are getting better this happens.

“The worst thing is no one is talking to us. In two weekends we could make £20,000. If our customers can’t get here we still have to pay our bills and pay our staff.”

He added: “We’ve been given four passes to get through the roadworks but we have more staff than that. You have to laugh otherwise you’d cry.”

Gazette:

Mr Lisney said the business has decided to open as usual whilst the roadworks are ongoing.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “We can understand the concern of the business owner.

"However, during the restrictions the owner and staff will have access to the property via an escort pass, which has already been issued.

"We send notice by letter two weeks before closures, which has been delivered to the business this week.

“The Old Siege House website urges customers who are driving to the restaurant to park in the Priory Street car park, which is still open despite the closures, however, a diversion will need to be followed if travelling from east of the town centre.

“Pedestrians will be able to access The Old Siege House without any restrictions.”

Find out more about the East Street works here.