'It has cost us business and disrupted deliveries' – Farm shop owner criticises major A449 roadworks scheme
Business owners affected by the first phase of major roadworks on the A449 in the Stourton, Lawnswood and Wall Heath area claim they have been 'kept in the dark' about the work.
The first phase of work on the A449 Kidderminster Road and Wolverhampton Road got under way last week affecting the road from the Stewponey at Stourton towards Wall Heath and also the Himley area.
It is continuing this week with a deadline set by the county council of June 18.
Matthew Roberts has worked at the family business, Roberts Farm Shop on the Kidderminster Road Wall Heath for nearly 50 years and runs it with his mother Pat and wife Lucy.
He said they have not been given clear information as to when the closures were going to be and there was major disruption in the early part of last week, with customers unable to access the shop and him being unable to make visits to wholesalers to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.
Matthew said: "It was a major problem, I think on the first day of the work we had eight customers in three hours in the morning, where normally there would probably have been around 80 in that time period.
"It has cost us business, disrupted deliveries and trips made out to get supplies as well.
"But it isn't so much the fact the roadworks are being done as they need to be it has been the lack of information about when they will take place. and we are expecting more disruption this week.
"I do think if the businesses had been bigger they would have got more warning but we didn't even receive so much as an e-mail or letter to clarify when the work would be carried out and how it would affect us and the other businesses."
Similar complaints were made on social media, with a post from nearby Prestwood Doggy Play Park claiming it had 'practically closed them down' on the first day of the work and one from Prestwood Cave Nursery saying they had two customers all day last Tuesday.
Staffordshire County Council said the second phase was starting this week, with work having been done on time so far.
A spokesman said: "The closures are clearly signposted with diversions in place and advance notice was posted on our website. We have set aside 18 days for the two phases of the main work which is taking place and we are trying to keep the disruption down to a minimum."
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