Pub owners in a remote part of Carmarthenshire are warning that an impending two-month road closure could be the final blow that forces their businesses to shut for good. The vital B4310 route, connecting the villages of Nantgaredig and Brechfa, is shutting in both directions from Monday, 5 January 2026, for up to eight weeks.
'How Are We Supposed to Function?'
The closure, near the village of Felingwm Isaf, will sever a key link to the A40 trunk road between Carmarthen and Llandeilo. While Carmarthenshire Council states the work is essential for public safety—involving vegetation clearance and installing a concrete block—local publicans feel blindsided and fear ruin.
"We have worked so hard to build our business up," said Kathryn Jones, owner of the Forest Arms in Brechfa. "We have bookings for 10, 12, 18 people. About 90% of our customers come from the Nantgaredig area. They are not going to want to do a 40-minute detour."
Jones discovered the closure only by spotting a road sign just before Christmas. She criticises the council's communication, noting a sign stating 'businesses open as normal' is deeply misleading. "How are we supposed to function as normal when people can't get to us?" she asked.
Weekend Reprieve Not Enough to Save Trade
Following local opposition, the council revised its initial plan for a continuous, seven-day closure. The road will now be shut on weekdays but will reopen from 3.30pm each Friday until 8am every Monday to support weekend trade.
However, for Kathryn Jones, this concession is insufficient. She has decided to close the Forest Arms from Monday to Thursday, operating only on weekends. "I have 28 staff on the books, eight full-time. I just won't have enough hours for them all," she explained, highlighting looming bills and a lack of compensation.
A major concern is that potential customers will see 'road closed' signs and assume access is impossible every day, not just on weekdays. "They might turn around and not bother coming back," Jones said.
'Could Finish Us Off Completely'
The anxiety is echoed at The Plough Inn in Felingwm Uchaf, run by Rachael Garside and her partner Joe. "It's already a challenging time in hospitality," Garside stated. "We doubt many people will travel miles out of their way... it could even be the tipping point that finishes us off completely."
Garside also feels "badly let down" by the council's communication, learning of the closure just a week before Christmas. "Rural communities can already feel isolated—this feels like we're literally being cut off," she added.
The council's official diversion is a lengthy 16-mile route via Llandeilo, Talley, and Llansawel. It states a full closure is necessary as there is no safe space for workers or machinery, ruling out traffic lights or a one-way system.
A council spokeswoman said: "An official diversion route will include clear signage... 'Business Open as Usual' signs have been installed to support local businesses." They added that the safety-critical works are needed to ensure the long-term reliability of the route and that bus operators have been notified of alternative school routes.
For the pub landlords and residents of these quiet Carmarthenshire villages, the next two months represent a fight for survival, with fears that the road to recovery may be permanently blocked.
