Pub owners in a picturesque but remote part of Carmarthenshire are warning that an impending two-month road closure could force them to shut down permanently. The vital B4310 route, connecting villages like Nantgaredig and Brechfa, is shutting down from Monday, 5th January 2026, for up to eight weeks.
'How Are We Supposed to Function?'
The closure, near the hamlet of Felingwm Isaf, will sever a key link to the A40 trunk road between Carmarthen and Llandeilo. While Carmarthenshire Council states the work to clear vegetation and install a concrete block is for public safety, local publicans feel blindsided and fear financial ruin.
"The first I knew of it was when I passed a sign on the road," said Kathryn Jones, owner of the Forest Arms in Brechfa. "One of the signs says 'businesses open as normal'. But how are we supposed to function as normal when people can't get to us?"
Jones estimates 90% of her customers travel from the Nantgaredig direction and will face a 40-minute detour. She has been forced to close her pub from Monday to Thursday, operating only on weekends, putting 28 staff at risk of lost hours.
A Tipping Point for Hospitality
Another affected business, The Plough Inn in Felingwm Uchaf, run by Rachael Garside and her partner Joe, faces a similar existential threat. "It's already a challenging time in hospitality," Garside said. "We doubt many people will travel miles out of their way... it could even be the tipping point that finishes us off completely."
Both business owners criticised the council's communication, claiming they only learned of the closure from roadside signs just before Christmas and have struggled to get information since. The council has since revised the plan, agreeing to reopen the road at weekends (from 3.30pm Friday to 8am Monday) after local opposition, but this may extend the overall project duration.
Lengthy Diversions and Community Impact
The official diversion route is substantial. Drivers are directed east on the A40 to Llandeilo, then north and west via the B4302 and B4337 through Talley and Llansawel, before heading south back to Brechfa—a lengthy detour for a short journey.
The council defended the full closure, stating there is no safe space for workers or machinery to operate without entering live traffic lanes, and that concrete deliveries cannot be handled safely under traffic lights. A spokeswoman added that bus operators have been notified of alternative routes for school transport and that 'Business Open as Usual' signs have been installed.
However, for Kathryn Jones, the damage may already be done. "People will see there's a road closure... and assume they can't get to the pub," she worried. "We'll have to try it for a couple of weeks and if it doesn't work we will have to shut up shop for the duration."
