Shops in Broad Street, Worcester, affected by Poundland work

The Autumn half term is usually one of the busiest weeks of the year for shops in Broad Street, but the long-running building work at the Poundland shop nearby has seen footfall drop off dramatically.

Shops like Toys and Games of Worcester have seen their trade suffer, especially earlier this week when the barriers allowing work to take place were moved all the way across the street.

The work, at what was one of the city's Poundland stores, began last year after serious structural problems were found.

Since then, the shop has remained closed with scaffolding around it and work barriers preventing access.

WORK: Poundland has been closed since May 2021 (Image: NQ)

This has meant the shops at the lower end of Broad Street have become increasingly cut off, with shopkeepers hitting out in the past at what they say is a lack of communication around the timescale and scope of the work.

Vape shop Connect 2 Vapes is another shop which has been affected.

Owner Andrew Connellan said: "It is a nightmare for all the shops.

"They have had more than a year to get this work done and fix what is wrong.

"I came up here the other day and couldn't get through at all

"Poundland was one of the main draws in the street for customers - do they not want to have it open?

"The way retail businesses have suffered, you do wonder if they want to bring it back at all.

SHOP: Andrew Connellan from Connect 2 Vapes (Image: NQ)

"This work won't finish us off, that's for sure."

However, Poundland reiterated its desire to stay in the city in January this year.

The shop originally closed in May 2021 for renovations, with serious structural damage discovered in November that year during Storm Arwen.

Responding to the concerns, a Crown Estate spokesperson said: "The works being undertaken at Angel House are urgent and essential repairs, and we are fully committed to completing the works as quickly as possible, with safety being our number one priority.

"However, the works needed are extensive and complicated.

"We are committed to keeping local traders as informed as possible and keeping lines of communication open throughout the works.

"To do this, we provide monthly email updates, hold regular information sessions, and have a dedicated community relations email address that can be contacted at any time."