ROAD signs are going up, appealing to people not to desert Loftus, as it is still open for business.

The borough council is backing their bid to keep people coming, despite disruptions to its main road into the town. For the past 18 months, Loftus has been plagued by on-off traffic flows resulting from the collapse of Loftus Bank.

Now the townspeople have been told that the road must be closed for another two months. The town has been operating with a single track and several sets of traffic lights, causing serious congestion and diversions.

The whole town has been affected and traders are counting the heavy cost. Facing what could be the final straw with work on the final phase due to start at the beginning of their normal busy summer season, the business association called an emergency meeting.

Their fears for the future were laid before Mr Andy Hyams, borough deputy director of technical services. There was criticism of past efforts to solve the Bank problem and its cost to the town.

Association chairman, Mr Doug Breckon, said they had been staggered to learn of the time it would take to complete this final stage, especially as it would mean complete closure of the road.

"It has been bad enough with the one-lane traffic system which has turned a lot of people away," he said. "But this closure will be right in the middle of a usually busy time. It has hit business hard and two shops have closed.

"When people get into a habit of shopping elsewhere they tend to keep on doing so.

"That's why we are insisting on the signs telling people not to forget us and that Loftus town is still open for business as usual. The town has been promised this by the council which is also making arrangements for traffic diversions.

"We will also we will be making claims for council tax rebate from the government to compensate for loss of business. "Naturally, we are all still very concerned about the long term effect this will have, but the work has to be done and the council seems to be doing its best to alleviate the situation."

Mr Hyams told the D&S Times that everything possible was being done to reduce hardship, especially over this last phase with the road closure. "One big assurance we can give to the people in the area affected by the disruption is that no community will lose a bus service. New timetables will be published well before the work begins. Special buses will operate on the 14-mile diversion between Loftus and Skinningrove, using the B1366 from Loftus through Liverton Mines, the A171 moor road, Lingdale, Skelton and Skinningrove, then back along the same route.

Local light vehicle traffic can use a shorter diversion on the narrow back road between Skinningrove and Loftus. Manned checks at both ends will ensure no heavy vehicles try to use it. They would be prosecuted.

At Loftus road safety meeting this week, Mr Hymas was asked to ensure that diversion signs were displayed on the 1174 and A171, especially as it could affect visitors to the Tom Leonard mining museum