Devon pub faces uncertain future after A379 storm damage impacts trade
Start Bay Inn among local businesses feeling the loss of crucial road link
A well-known pub in Devon is among several businesses grappling with a significant downturn in trade following severe storm damage to a vital road in the area.
The Start Bay Inn and other family-run enterprises in Torcross have seen their income plummet since part of the A379 Slapton Line was washed away earlier this year.
Storm conditions hit hard, damaging properties and local sea defences. The road closure has isolated several businesses from a steady stream of customers.
Gail Stubbs, who has managed the Start Bay Inn since 1977, described how trade fell drastically after the storms.
"We've lost about a third of our customers because there's no direct link from Dartmouth and beyond," Stubbs said in a letter included with Devon County Council’s funding application for road repairs.
Billy Can Cafe owners, Alison and John Willcock, echoed Stubbs' lament, citing a one-third drop in trade and a downturn in holiday lets.
The Department for Transport is expected to announce funding awards for road repair work in the autumn, following Devon County Council's bid submitted in August. The bid seeks nearly £20 million to help restore the Slapton Line.
For businesses like Start Bay Inn, the future remains uncertain. While this year's losses have been cushioned by business interruption insurance, Stubbs worries about what might happen next year if the road remains closed.
The council estimated that the diversions for drivers add up to a 14-mile journey, taking approximately 40 minutes, a significant inconvenience affecting local businesses annually by an estimated £2.7 million gross value added loss.
Devon County Council stated, "The estimated cost of £20.6 million represents 24 per cent of DCC’s entire annual highway maintenance budget. Uncertainty around future budgets post local government reorganisation will make affordability worse."
As businesses and residents await news on the potential government support, the community remains resilient despite the significant challenges.