THE main road connecting East Cornwall with Devon is to be closed both this weekend and next.

People in Gunnislake have been bombarding the county council and local politicians with complaints.

As well as the inconvenience, they fear emergency services could be delayed, having to detour around near Launceston instead of traversing Newbridge on the A390.

Councillor Godfrey Smale, who sits on all three local authorities and lives in the village, is due to meet highways officials this week, but isn't too hopeful.

'We need the thing managed in a way that will allow access for local traffic,' he said.

'A lot of people work Saturdays and Sundays — nurses and all the other services for example — they are going to have to make a 15 or 16-mile detour almost into Launceston — and what happens if there's a fire in the village?'

Mr Smale said the county council was promoting that detour because the Horsebridge route was tortuous and difficult unless drivers knew the road.

'Although I know there's no easy answer, I'm hoping we can negotiate some plan that will allow local people access,' he said.

Mr Smale also criticised the lack of information about the closures.

'Most people will only realise the road is closed when they come up against the barriers — they won't have read the notices or seen the signposts,' he said.

Ian Kirk, chairman of Calstock Parish Council, echoed Mr Smale's concerns.

'I'm extremely annoyed with the amount of information we've been given and the clarity of that information.

'I've had an awful lot of complaints from people in Gunnislake in particular who are going to be terribly inconvenienced,' he said.

The section between Gunnislake's Fore Street and New Bridge is due to be closed from early morning to evening on February 10, 11, 17 and 18 for resurfacing work.

Fore Street itself is single carriageway and would therefore need to be completely closed for a time, although there is a back road that could bypass this section.

The rest of the road down to the bridge is wider and could be closed in sections, to allow access.