A SIDBURY resident has predicted three weeks of traffic chaos starting from Monday when Devon County Highways closes a main road to carry out repairs. County council workers will start resurfacing work on the Sidmouth to Honiton road on Monday, October 13

A SIDBURY resident has predicted three weeks of traffic chaos starting from Monday when Devon County Highways closes a main road to carry out repairs.

County council workers will start resurfacing work on the Sidmouth to Honiton road on Monday, October 13, and the road will be temporarily closed from the south of Hillside to the north of Orchardside.

The road-works are predicted to last until Friday, October 30, and residents have been warned that there will be some disturbance and disruption.

Judith Stephens, owner of the Kingfisher Gallery at Sidbury Mill, believes the road closure will cause chaos in the village.

She said: "It will have a considerable impact, Sidbury will be very badly affected in terms of residents and businesses being unable to travel from one end of the village to the other.

"Village residents will be unable to park outside their properties and some will have their driveways entirely blocked. Residents have been asked to park their cars at various locations but these are inevitably situated at some distance from people's homes."

An exhibition arranged by Judith at her gallery, which was scheduled for October 18-26, has had to be postponed until November although she had already sent out hundreds of invitations.

The first of this year's new series of lunchtime concerts at St Giles Church, will also be affected by the road closure, but will go ahead as planned on Thursday October 16.

Keith Dawson, who is organising the concerts, said people travelling from Sidmouth or Sidford should use the back road into the village and,if parking is short, use the Millennium Field.

Judith added:

"We were just informed two weeks ago. There had been some mention from a local councillor that there would be some road works but no one had any idea how extensive they would be."

A spokesperson for Devon County Council Highways said: "Whilst we appreciate this may cause some inconvenience for local people, this is an important scheme and it is vital, as well as our legal obligation, to maintain the road network.

"We have sent a letter to residents and businesses giving two weeks notice as well as notifying the press and putting the information on our website.

"Again, we apologise for any inconvenience caused and will endeavour to complete the work as quickly as possible.