THE roadworks on the A338 Spur Road have much of Dorset in a “stranglehold”, the county’s top business spokesman has said.

The work near the Blackwater Junction has made staff and deliveries late, led to cancelled meetings and put some visitors off.

Ian Girling, chief executive of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has been inundated with calls and texts.

He said: “While we understand the roadworks are essential, it’s absolutely imperative that every step is taken to minimise disruption for travellers.

“The roadworks are causing a stranglehold on access in and out of the conurbation and we’ve received many complaints from members of the business community. The roadworks are affecting people across a huge area and the impact has been immediate.”

He said the chamber had been sent information in advance which it shared with businesses, but the works had caused an “immediate, huge impact”.

“The correct road infrastructure is vital for the county and for economic growth. Our plea would be to complete the roadworks as quickly as possible with minimal disruption,” he added.

Earlier this week, Beales chief executive Tony Brown called on highways bosses to put in contraflow systems on the Spur Road so that two lanes could be kept open in the busier direction each day.

He warned: “Nine months of this will mean a real challenge at Christmas in Bournemouth.”

Bus companies have also been badly affected.

Adam Keen, general manager at Morebus, tweeted: “This is causing chaos to our bus services, not only those using the A338 but those across Bournemouth, with Parley Cross being particularly badly affected. Night closures only please!”

Coach driver Jay Burrows tweeted: “My coach party were two hours late back. Unaccompanied children stuck waiting for host families all stuck across the conurbation.”

Morebus managing director Andrew Wickham said buses had been delayed by up to two hours on the first day, easing to 30-45 minutes by Thursday.

“I’d like to offer our absolute heartfelt apologies to our poor customers who have been held up and their journeys delayed by all this,” he said.

“My heart goes out to our drivers who are also having much longer days and unpredictable finish times because of it.”

The impact was worst on the two buses which use the Spur Road – the X3, running from Bournemouth to Salisbury, and the X6, from Bournemouth to Verwood and back to Poole. But there was a knock-on effect across the network.

He called for as much work as possible to be done at night. He also urged councils to consider a “big bang” approach, closing the entire route for a shorter time, such as at weekends.

He said the company was lobbying councils and designing an emergency timetable. “It won’t speed things up but it gives the bus more time to get through the roadworks,” he added.

David Squire, managing director of Yellow Buses, said: “Congestion is a major issue for us and this week has been a particular headache. Routes 2, 3 and 3a serve the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and have been affected by delays in the area of the Cooper Dean roundabout caused by the works on the A338.

“Our passengers appreciate that we’re doing our best to run to timetable but that, like all road users, we are being affected by factors which are outside our control.”