BUSINESS owners and residents in Blacksnape in Darwen claim they feel like they have been “punched in the nose” as roadworks continue to cause major disruption.

Takings are down 40 per cent at the Crown and Thistle pub and families say journeys to work and school are being delayed because of the closure of Roman Road.

The road has been shut from south of Grimehills Bridge, Blacksnape, to Edgworth to allow work on long-standing drainage, flooding and pothole problems.

Residents have spent months calling for the work to be done but say they cannot understand why it has meant closing the road when similar work was carried out in Edgworth last year without such drastic action.

They have also expressed their disappointment that information on the closures has been “low key” and, they claim, misleading.

Morteza Zabhi, landlord of the Crown and Thistle, said he was keen to let people know it was business as usual.

He said: “There is only one sign saying that the pub is open and the rest keep saying ‘Road Closed’.

“You wonder how many people have just turned round and gone home.

"You can get here via a 20-minute diversion through Darwen and Hoddlesden, which many people in Edgworth aren’t keen to do.

"It’s hit us very badly, takings are down about 40 per cent.

"Valentine’s Day is usually one of our busiest days, but this year it wasn’t at all.”

Sue Skipper, of Blacksnape Road, said: “You can just about get through sometimes, but other days you can’t.

“I’m having to get up half an hour sooner to get the children to school in Edgworth, and now they’re going to be resurfacing Broadhead Road, which is one of the alternative routes.

“It’s like a punch in the nose because we’ve been asking for these repairs for a long time, and now they have acted very drastically.”

East Rural councillor Julie Slater said: “The residents were only given short notice, and it’s not an ideal situation, but these are essential structural works that need to be done.”

Coun Alan Cottam said: “The road has been temporarily closed to solve a long-standing drainage problem at Grimehills bridge.

“The closure is necessary because the road is too narrow for temporary traffic control.

“Signs have been put up at the Blacksnape Road/Hoddlesden Road junction indicating that access to the Crown and Thistle and Red Lion pubs from Darwen and Hoddlesden remains unaffected.

“We appreciate the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure and are working to complete these vital improvements as quickly as possible.”