VISITORS to one of East Lancashire’s main tourist spots will be sent on a 25-mile detour as engineers carry out major works on an historic bridge.

Residents and traders in Slaidburn have raised grave concerns about the timing of structural repairs to the Croasdale Bridge, which will mean the closure of the main thoroughfare into the Trough of Bowland during the height of the tourist season.

One business has estimated it could lose a five-figure sum during the work.

Motorists will be sent on the 25-mile detour around country roads to access the village and its amenities including the post office, the Riverbank Tearooms, village hall and The Hark to Bounty Inn pub.

Known locally as The Skaith, the single track B-road could be closed for up to three weeks as part of the work by Lancashire County Council.

Peter Moore, from the Ribble Valley Tourism Association, said: “There will be a big impact on the tourism side and if businesses are going to lose money then maybe there needs to be some compensation.

“Unfortunately this work is necessary so that this area can thrive long after we are gone and I can see both sides of the arguement.”

Ben Dobson, owner of the Stocks Fly Fishery, said his tackle shop and fishing lodge in Catlow Road would be cut off by the work.

He has negotiated a new access point on the east shore of Stocks Reservoir and has had to build a new jetty so customers can use his one-mile fishing lake.

Staff now have to embark on the detour before reaching a new one-mile path cut through vegetation.

They then have to paddle a mile across the reservoir to reach the store.

Mr Dobson said: “The impact on our business will be terrible because it is taking place during our peak season and we have had put in place measures to make sure we survive.

"To me these works have caused a financial nightmare.”

Joe Clarkson, who runs the Riverbank Tea Rooms in the village, said: “We are worried the tourists will just get confused as they do not know the roads and it will put them off from coming here.

“But the work does need doing because the bridge has deteriorated – it is just a shame it happen during the peak season.”

Odele Hodgson, who runs the village post office, said: “It is a shame how much disruption it will cause but the work is necessary – the bridge was built for a horse and cart not for the huge wagons which use it.”

County hall chiefs said the repairs to the 1765 bridge were to help it survive another century.

The ambulance service recommended work was done during the summer when daylight hours are longer to allow more cover from the air ambulance which does not fly at night.

Bridge engineer David Griffiths said work had been programmed according to residents’ feedback and that work will take place 24 hours a day to shorten delays.