Daytime work on the road began this week, with traffic in the town centre being backed up in all directions by temporary traffic lights.

The work is concentrated on the London Road, Wharf Road and St. Catherines Road cross section.

Harri Bharwani, owner of China 88 on the corner of London Road and St. Catherines Road, says the work is causing yet another slump for town business.

Mr Bharwani said: "I know the work has to be done but it's ridiculous for the local businesses and the effect it is having on them.

"For us specifically we have taken a massive drop in sales and the way things are in the town at the moment and with the amount of shops closing down, it doesn't help."

Mr Bharwani says China 88 took a fall of around 25 per cent in sales last weekend because of the roadworks.

Add to the mix ever increasing levels of costs and businesses are struggling.

Mr Bharwani said: "The hard part is we have still got to pay full bills- the rates, the gas, the electricity. We get no compensation whatsoever.

"The council should be looking at compensating us in one form or another especially for the amount of investment and time put into building businesses."

Mr Bharwani has spoken to the owners of other businesses close to China 88 and has found the roadworks are having a similar effect.

He said: "I'm quite a large business in this town but some of the smaller guys are really struggling.

"I've spoken to most of them in the cross-section and they are telling me they are struggling to survive."


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