West Bromwich traders fear ruin as roadworks go on

Takings have fallen by more than half for traders in West Bromwich due to roadworks, it was claimed today.

Shop owners on High Street have complained that the works, which started three weeks ago and are set to last a further seven weeks, are ruining business with shoppers being left unable to park in bays outside their stores.

The South Staffs Water works to repair ageing water mains on the street will last until Christmas and are being undertaken to coincide with other regeneration work in the town. Traders are facing months of disruption due to the construction of the £200 million Tesco shopping development in the town.

Umer Khatab, owner of Ghosia Mini Market, said his takings have dropped from £5,500 to just £2,500 per week. The 34-year-old said: "We are just not getting the customers through the door. I have been here 10 years and we have never seen anything like this. We are really struggling. In all my time in business I have never had to use the banks overdraft facility, but last week I had to go to the bank to arrange one. We are also not selling the fresh produce. It means that a lot of it is going bad and we are just having to throw it away."