Shopkeepers in a busy Tipton road say trade is being crippled by road closures which are set to cut off their stores to motorists for the next three months.
Park Lane East has been shut off to traffic since Monday while gas works are carried out. Already shopkeepers are reporting a downturn in trade because drivers cannot access their stores. Deliveries have also been disrupted as vans are unable to pull up alongside stores. Jason Duggal has run Duggal’s Chemist in Park Lane East for the past 11 years.
He said he has already seen a 25 per cent drop in custom because of the gas works.
He said it was now difficult for disabled or elderly customers, who cannot walk very far, to access his shop.
Mr Duggal said shopkeepers had been told the works would only last a week.
He was shocked to discover the problems would last for three months, and said that better planning could have been in place to protect shopkeepers from loss of business.
“I don’t think it has been planned properly,” said Mr Duggal.
“We were initially told one week but now it’s almost three months, it’s going to kill trade.
“We are not getting any of the passing custom.
“I’ve noticed at least a 25 per cent decrease in custom already.”
The work to replace a gas main is being carried out by National Grid and the firm closed part of the road on Friday.
On Monday morning the whole of the street was shut off to traffic.
The project is part of National Grid’s 30-year programme to improve the safety and reliability of the gas supply network.
Last week National Grid project manager Dave Garbett said it would cause “short-term inconvenience for a long-term benefit”.
A compensation package has not been formally set up but National Grid spokeswoman Jane Taylor said claims would be assessed on an individual basis.
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