TRADERS fear that shoppers are shunning them because they believe they are closed while roadworks are being carried out.

Lowesmoor, in the city centre, has been closed off to traffic as the sewers are re-lined, with the work affecting trade, but pedestrians are still able to walk along there.

Some shopkeepers believe members of the public do not know that they are still open.

There are signs informing people that shops are "open for business as usual" but owners believe few people have noticed them.

"I do not think people realise that they can still walk down the road," said Linda Lewis from Braemers Frames.

Quiet

"It has been very quiet here."

Butcher Uwe Meier, from H Smith, agreed that shoppers were not visiting the area, but also thought that closing the road was not the only option.

"Why not put up traffic lights rather than closing off the road?" asked Mr Meier.

"Much of our business comes from through traffic and at the moment there is no through traffic."

Another trader, Liz Edge, from Midland Waterlife, said all businesses on the street were feeling the squeeze.

"We are about 40 per cent down," she said.

"Everybody must be suffering from the roadworks."

However, the shopkeepers recognise that the maintenance work, which began on Monday and should be completed by Friday, September 26, has to be carried out and are thankful that it is being done now before the busy Christmas period.

Severn Trent Water, which is carrying out the work, said there is a possibility of businesses being given financial help.

"We have a compensation scheme in place," said Gill Turton, a spokesperson for Severn Trent.

"If businesses can prove to us that they have lost money while works have been going on then we will compensate for that loss."