00:00It's a gem on the North Pembrokeshire coast. Newport, or Trefdraith, attracts visitors
00:05all year round who come here for the stunning scenery and to relax in this attractive seaside
00:11town. This may not look like a trunk road, but it's the A487 which runs along the Welsh
00:17coastline to Fishgarden and beyond, through the centre of Newport. Major works need to
00:22be carried out where the Avon Velin crosses under the road.
00:26The drainage structure that runs under the A487 here in the centre of Newport is going
00:31to have to be totally replaced and the work is going to take around eight weeks. This
00:37section of road will have to close.
00:39There'll be a short diversion at Market Street and along this narrow road for cars and vans
00:44controlled by traffic lights, but larger vehicles will face a 35 mile diversion.
00:50Throughout the year there is a certain degree of footfall in this town based on visitors
00:55and I think there is a real risk that that will fall off.
00:59Business owners like Isabel say there's some confusion about the road closure.
01:03Vehicles over a certain weight will be diverted, but anybody else, normal cars, Newport will
01:10be open as normal and I think it's just a case of allowing a little bit longer for journeys,
01:14but people can still get in, can still park, can still use Newport as normal.
01:19Emma told me she's already told staff she'll have to consider cutting back on hours and
01:24there's been no financial support for businesses.
01:26As yet no sign of any compensation or support whatsoever because obviously our bills remain
01:33the same for January and February, nothing kind of reduces and it would be nice to have
01:37a little bit of financial support I think.
01:39What impact could it have on you as a business? Obviously you employ a number of people. How
01:43many people do you employ and what impact could it have do you think?
01:45Well in January and February there are four full time here. I've already had to sit down
01:49with the team and give them a little bit of a heads up that we'll possibly have to cut
01:53hours down for those two months.
01:54We're slightly worried. Obviously it's really important that the road gets sorted. We want
02:00everyone to be safe, but also we want everyone to know that we're still going to be open.
02:06For Tom Os at the Funon Homeware stores, the road closure comes after a challenging period.
02:11For us we see it in the wider context of the issues around Welsh Government policy and
02:17Pembrokeshire County Council policy over second homes and council tax increases. That's
02:23made the business environment in Newport very difficult.
02:27The road closure will be in place between the 6th of January and the 28th of February.
02:32The Welsh Government says it understands local concerns, but the work is essential to make
02:36sure the road can remain open and it's trying to minimise disruption. It added the work
02:41is being carried out at the least disruptive time of the year.
02:45The shops and cafes of Newport say although this section of road will be closed, their
02:50town will be open for business.
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