The owner of a pub on the A628 Woodhead Pass has warned that continuing road closures put staff jobs at risk and are wiping out much of his trade after a nearby moorland fire.
Local business cut off from passing trade
Steve Marsh, landlord of The Dog & Partridge Inn in Flouch, said the westbound carriageway of the A628 was shut on Thursday following a car crash which sparked a moorland blaze about a mile (1.6km) from the pub. He told reporters he could not see the reason for keeping that stretch closed while the vehicle fire had been extinguished.
"There is no sense"
Marsh said the closure had forced him to send staff home and had already cost the business heavily. He estimated losses running into "thousands of pounds a week" and warned there could be job losses if access is not restored to passing customers.
National Highways and emergency response
A spokesperson for National Highways said the agency was arranging signage at Flouch Roundabout to confirm the pub is open and intended to adjust the current closure to allow safe two-way access to the premises.
Separate to the car-fire incident near Flouch, a large-scale moorland fire on Tintwistle Moor, near Glossop, was also being fought. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said on Monday that about 65 firefighters from 10 different services remained at the scene.
Compounding pressures for a rural pub
Marsh said the pub has already lost staff because of nearby roadworks in 2025 and is worried about planned bridge-repair closures on two weekends in August, which fall in the pub's busiest period. He urged National Highways to consider carrying out the weekend work on weekdays instead.
- Location affected: A628 Woodhead Pass at Flouch
- Nearby blaze: vehicle fire about 1 mile (1.6km) from the pub
- Major incident elsewhere: Tintwistle Moor fire about 10 miles (16km) away, with 65 firefighters involved
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pub | The Dog & Partridge Inn, Flouch |
| Immediate cause of closure | Car crash leading to a moorland blaze |
| Emergency resources at Tintwistle Moor | 65 firefighters from 10 services |
The situation highlights the vulnerability of rural businesses that rely on passing motorists. The A628 is an important link between South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester; even partial restrictions can significantly reduce casual trade to roadside pubs and cafés.
National Highways’ proposed signage and alteration to the closure may restore some customer access in the short term, but pub owners say they need certainty over planned roadworks and emergency closures for the summer, when trade is relied upon to sustain staff and overheads.
For now, local residents and visitors are advised to check local travel updates before using the Woodhead Pass and follow any diversion or safety instructions from highways and emergency services.
