SHOP owners in Malvern say they are fed up with roadworks which they say are impacting on their businesses.

The work near Poolbrook Road means cars cannot access the street, and traders nearby have said they are being “forgotten” while other shops in the town get back to business after lockdown.

Alison Pearson, who runs Poolbrook Cafe, said: “There is only one sign saying the Poolbrook Road is closed as you come out of Barnards Green and no proper diversion sign.

“The only other sign says ‘Access to Watkins Way Diversion’ but nothing about Poolbrook Road.

“There is nothing at all to tell you the road is closed as you come up the Guarlford Road into Malvern.

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“The first week after lockdown we were about 50 per cent down on what we took the week before we went into the second lockdown.

“The fact that only same households and support bubbles can meet inside has had a major impact on trade.

“We did try trading during the first week of the second lockdown with takeaways but it was very quiet as we aren’t in a main shopping area and we weren’t even covering the cost of wages yet alone anything else so we had to close for the rest of it.”

Mrs Pearson added that the roadworks, which appear to be gas related, are “just another kick in the teeth that we really could do without”.

Steve Bourne, from Poolbrook Pet Supplies, said he was “absolutely disgusted” at the road being closed, saying there had been no communication on how long it would last.

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He said: “Every time I go down there, there is never anyone working.”

He was joined by Tom Hodges, from Hodges Hair, who said: “I have been closed for five months this year because of Covid and these traffic works are disrupting all the small businesses here.

“We’ve been given no notice or any inclination of how long it will go on for.”

The works, which include the closure of Poolbrook Road and Watkins way are being carried out for the replacement of a gas main by Balfour Beatty.

Poolbrook Road is closed from its junction with Geraldine Road to its junction with Werstan Close, while Watkins Way is closed from its junction with Poolbrook Road to its junction with Hilton Road.

A Cadent spokesperson said: “Cadent are currently carrying out essential maintenance work in the area and all traffic management has been agreed by the local authority. We know this may cause disruption, but hope people understand this is essential work to keep Malvern safe and warm.

"Our engineers are working hard to complete this work as quickly as possible and if anyone in the community has any issues they would like to discuss, we would urge them to contact us directly.”