ANGRY traders claim they could lose thousands of pounds over plans to shut the main road through a York community.

They claim plans to close The Village - the road that links Wigginton and Haxby - for a fortnight to carry out resurfacing work will mean they lose out on much of the passing trade they depend on to make a living.

The road closure will mean traffic will be cut off not only to the village shops and pubs, but also to Haxby and Wigginton Health Centre.

Jayne Harvey, owner of Wigginton Stores, said she had not even had a notice from City of York Council telling her the work was going to be carried out.

"The first I knew of it was when my dad came back saying he'd read a poster on a lamp-post saying work was being carried out from Monday (September 5) for a fortnight," said Jayne.

"It's going to be terrible for trade. We get a lot of people popping in who just park up outside throughout the day and I can't see them coming back if they have got to go elsewhere.

"I'll lose out on hundreds of pounds, and among all of us it's bound to run into thousands."

Mrs Harvey, 37, said she had worked in the shop since she was 15, and could not remember the council closing the entire road for works to be carried out in the past.

The road is being closed from Westfield Lane junction to Westfield Road junction.

The first phase is from Westfield Lane up to Moor Lane, and will be closed from Monday, September 5, to Friday, September 9.

The second phase will start on Monday, September 12, between Moor Lane and Westfield Road. At both times the road will be closed between 8.15am and 5pm.

"They've taken the surface off before, but always one carriageway at a time, never the whole road," she said.

Clare Austin, manageress of The Cottage Inn, Haxby, said the road closure would mean customers could potentially not be able to get in to the pub's car park.

"If they close off the whole road how are we meant to get our deliveries through?

"We are a pub - we serve beer and food - what are we supposed to do about getting them delivered?

"Our function room caters for 100 people and we have it booked for several functions during the time the road is being done, so I wouldn't like to think how much money we could lose."

A spokeswoman for City of York Council said: "Unfortunately, for safety reasons, we will have to close the road before work can start. We appreciate that this will cause some disruption. However, we will try to do everything possible to minimise any inconvenience."

Updated: 10:45 Wednesday, August 31, 2005