A BUSINESSMAN has hit out at roadworks which he says have been putting off visitors at one of his busiest times of the year.

George Loggie, who has run The Daffy Cafe in Farndale for 16 years, said it was “unbelievable” that the work was taking place just before the Easter weekend with no warnings given.

“It is frightening to think how much money I have lost when things are bad enough with the cold weather we have had recently,” he said.

“We are now in the school holiday and this is my busiest time of the year with families out and about looking for somewhere nice to go. What they are met with is road closures everywhere you seem to go, with no warning given, just a sign across the road.”

George said visitors could not get to Farndale from Kirkbymoorside and roads to Gillamoor and Hutton-le-Hole had also been closed.

“I know the roads have to be done, but what a time of year to do it. I wonder if they are being prepared for this money spinner the Tour de Yorkshire, but who comes up with this idea that businesses generate so much money from the race?” he said.

George said the only way to get to Farndale was through Fadmoor.

“Every person has visited my tearoom has complained about the road signs. I just wonder many people who don’t know the area have given up and gone somewhere else,” he said.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said the authority was carrying out a £1.5m programme of resurfacing and patching work in the Ryedale and North Yorkshire Moors area, and particularly in Rosedale, Farndale and Bransdale, to bring some of these these minor rural roads up to the necessary standard.

“These roads have been assessed as most in need of attention due to their condition, not because of the Tour de Yorkshire. Only one, the road through Rosedale Abbey, is on the race route,” he said.

“This programme of works is being funded from a £25m Government pot announced last year to repair rural roads as a support to the local economy.

“We acknowledge that road closures for highways repairs cause inconvenience and we have chosen this time of year to get the bulk of the works done after the worse of the winter weather and before Easter and certainly before the summer tourist season gets under way.”