BUSINESSES in and around Semington are worried the opening of the village's bypass could force them to close.

They are now preparing action plans to help keep them afloat when the Semington bypass opens next year.

Businesses fear the £12 million pound road scheme, which is due to be finished next February, and the proposed closure of parts of the A350 will kill passing trade.

Sub postmaster Jim Lloyd, 57, admits the future of Semington Post Office hangs in the balance.

He said: "It is going to be a bit of a gamble because it could have a devastating effect on this business.

"But there is a possibility that when the road is quieter more people might come down here."

After running it for nine years, Mr Lloyd has put the post office on the market, but admits nobody has shown an interest.

He said: "Obviously we are going to keep going for as long as we can."

Waney Edge Caf manager Diane Ceylan, 43, said her family has been running the business for 25 years, but admits the next 12 months are make or break.

"It concerns me greatly," she said. "We've been offered no form of compensation but the council has agreed to put a sign up for us by the bypass.

"We are going to carry on trading but we will have to see what happens in a year's time."

Mrs Ceylan, whose daughter and sister-in-law also work at the caf on the A350, is worried holidaymakers will no longer stop for food if they use the bypass.

She said: "I had someone phone up from Birmingham the other day to check we were still open.

"Regular customers say we are an institution and try to reassure us, but I think we might be forced to make lay offs."

David Trigg, manager of Triggs of Semington, has already started to spend more money on advertising his garage because he is also predicting a fall in passing trade.

He said: "I'm trying to attract more attention to the business. The majority of traffic will use the bypass, which could turn the village into a giant cul-de-sac."

A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said two points along the A350 would be closed to through traffic; one just north of Outmarsh Farm, on the Melksham side of the Kennet and Avon Canal, and the other at Little Marsh.

"The bypass will mean businesses losing passing trade but there is no way round that," he added. "The purpose of the bypass is to take traffic away from Semington."