A FURIOUS businessman has been left reeling after the main road to Bank Mill Visitor Centre has been closed yet again.

Often in bad weather the public is prevented from accessing the attraction by road closures on the B5300 at Dubmill Point.

And Bill James fears the whole road could soon be undermined and washed away.

In less than two weeks the county has been hit by two violent storms, meaning the access road was closed to ensure the safety of road-users.

Mr James said: “The road had a little bit of sand on it and it took Highways ages to sort out. I have lost my regular customers now – they closed the road for 19 weeks and people just don’t trust the road will be open for them to visit my business.

“We have lost lots of passing trade.

“Repairs need to be made these closures affect business and we’re losing money.”

Mr James is also worried about how these closures will affect the saleability of properties in the area. “If nothing is done people are unable to view the properties that are for sale and if they know the road is regularly closed they’re not going to want to buy here,” he added.

Cumbria County Council has said it is unable to build a new road as it will flood and be closed because it is on the coast, but it insists it is doing all it can. A council spokesman said: “Following an extensive clean-up after storms Darren and Ciara, the B5300 is now open again to traffic.”

Mr James believes the only way to protect the remaining beach is to install pile-driven groynes along the shore north of Dubmill Point. That, he said, would slow the seawater and prevent so much of the beach being washed sideways and out to sea.

He said he would write to MP Mark Jenkinson as something need to be done because the water is washing the road away from underneath.