ONE Sorn business could be forced to close due to extensive roadworks, which locals claim are cutting the village off from surrounding areas.

The B743 and B744 works are now in their third week of closure and are not expected to re-open for at least another eight weeks.

The main road through the village is undergoing some essential maintenance work, but at the same time is cutting off a main route on the way through.

Alan Ierland, Design & Environment Team Manager from the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, said: “Work to replace a failed section of retaining wall in Sorn started on July 21.

“The wall retains the B743 Sorn to Mauchline road above the River Ayr. In order to carry out the necessary work we have had to close a section of the road to all vehicular traffic for approximately eight weeks. A signed traffic diversion is in place and pedestrian passage is available past the works.“ Mr Ierland continued: “Before this work started an information letter was sent to residents in Anderson Crescent immediately adjacent to the works, elected members and the Community Council advising of the works and the anticipated eight week road closure.” But now the owner of The Olive Tree cafe say they may be forced to close after profits dipped by a staggering 70 per cent as the road closures slashed the amount of passing trade.

Martin Robertson, owner of the Olive Tree cafe, said: “We are currently on a rolling lease but if things stay like this for another eight weeks then we would have no option but to give it up. This could force us to close.” He continued: “We weren’t even given a week’s notice before this began, we were told about four or five days before.

“We sell artwork from a local artist here as well and we have literally sold nothing.” Mr Robertson said the the road has needed repair for about four years. He said he wrote to the council about the situation but says he’s had no reply.

He said: “I looked in to getting compensation because they gave us less than a week’s notice, but they essentially said that if they handed out compensation every time they did roadworks there’d be no money left.

“We’re going to end up with no tea room and possibly no post office, that’s hardly a vibrant community.” The essential roadworks were highlighted at the recent launch of the Sorn and Auchencloigh Community Action Plan and East Ayrshire Council have acted fast to begin the work.

Bill Morton, of the Community Council, said: “The works are an essential operation, but this is the tourist time of year which has been badly affected.

“The passing trade and tourism not getting through the village is really the crux of the matter.” However, it’s not just Mr Robertson’s business that’s suffering.

The Sorn Inn hotel is monitoring its takings to assess how much of an impact the roadworks have had.

Owner George Grant said: “We’re monitoring this year’s takings against last year’s so in a couple of weeks we’ll have a better idea if it has impacted on us.

“It hasn’t really affected us too badly in the first week, but this second week we have noticed it a little bit. Luckily for us we have had a wedding in the last two weeks so maybe we haven’t been hit as hard as other business like the cafe.” Jonathan Sloan recently took out a lease to set up his Post Office. He said: “It was going to be a struggle to start with. I didn’t realise how much of my trade was passing trade.

“I’m on a short term lease to try and give the people of Sorn a decent shop.

“I know that these roadworks are essential and they have to be done but we really need the people of Sorn to stand with us and help us through this.”