BUSINESSES are sending highway bosses a big 'I told you so' after recording a profits slump two weeks into a controversial road improvement scheme.

Members of the A334 action group predicted their businesses would be affected if the main road from Shedfield to Botley was closed to allow the roadworks to be carried out.

This week they have been proved right.

One of the main employers on the road, Wickham Vineyard, has suffered more than a £1,000 drop in sales compared with the same week last year.

Owner Angela Channon said: "We were recording better than average profits before the roadworks began so effectively we have lost more than £1,000.

"We have also had to lay off one member of staff who worked in our shop because there just weren't the customers to justify having her there all day. I manage the shop myself now.

"We have now launched a promotion giving people the chance to have ten per cent of their next purchase so we encourage people to keep coming back to us."

Mrs Channon said that businesses along the A334 would also benefit if traffic was allowed through the road on a traffic light system at weekends when the contractors were not working.

She added that the Heath and Safety Executive said the work could be completed safely without closing the whole road.

"If they are not working at weekends then at least open up the road so traffic can come through. There is no point in us losing the trade otherwise. They could finish the job off quicker if they did work at weekends."

Hampshire County Council who commissioned the roadworks said the road had to remain closed in sections as planned.

A spokesman said: "The stretch of road is too long to accommodate lights. Under national guidelines the maximum length traffic lights can be apart is 300 metres otherwise there wouldn't be enough time allowed for vehicles to get through.

"Also we are unable to carry out the work at weekends due to the lack of experienced contractors available then and problems with supplies at weekends. Also there are strict limitations on when they can work because of noise and vibration levels.

"We have to make sure that our contractors work in the safest way possible and we are not in the business of compromising that. The advice we had was that the road did need to be closed."

She also confirmed that more signs were due to be put up after liaising with local businesses.

Staff at the Meon Valley Country Club, which is also on the road, said guests were confused by the diversion signs.

Mildren Construction Ltd, the contractors carrying out the six-month resurfacing and drainage work, also suffered a blow after more than £30,000 of plant equipment was stolen from their Botley Road site. A generator, vibrating plate and two petrol disc cutters were taken on Wednesday night.

Director Chris Wingham said: "We have just been setting up as the project has only just started. While it won't delay us in any way it is just frustrating when these things happen so we would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact the police."

Contact Fareham police on 0845 045 4545.