Shop owners lament footfall drop after works start

Roadworks set to take 44 weeks are under way in Canterbury

Traders near Westgate Towers in Canterbury say business has gone quiet since nearby roadworks began in April.

One local business owner said there were "no traffic and no pedestrians" passing his storefront as a result of the £1.5 million project.

Roads surrounding the Grade I listed landmark are being closed in stages throughout the 44-week project to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, Canterbury City Council says.

A council spokesperson says it hopes locals "will think it has all been worth it" once the work is complete.

Sedat Ozdogan says "it takes ages" to get across the city

According to the council, the three-stage project will improve the area's roads and pavements to "better reflect its heritage and history".

But Sedat Ozdogan, the owner of Westgate Dry Cleaners, says he has seen customers numbers drop since work began, but does not believe the completed project will bring improvements.

"When you drive around the city it takes ages to get from one point to another now," he says.

Mr Ozdogan added: "I sit here in my window and work and can see there is no traffic and no pedestrians.

"We have lots of parks and the high street for events and I don't think we need to close roads."

Ali Maroof says the traffic is "always crazy"

Leo's Cafe's passing trade is down too, according to Ali Maroof, who runs the coffee shop.

"We have less customers because the traffic is always crazy," he says.

"I was looking forward to the project but right now I don't know if its going to be better or worse."

Punter Brad Wheatley is concerned about construction noise

Brad Wheatley, who runs Westgate Punts on the Rover Stour, says while many of his customers arrive by train, noise from the works could become disruptive.

He says: "I sell peaceful punts, which they are not when you have a hammer drill going nearby.

"As the works gets closer, I fear it will affect business."

'Worst first quarter'

Lisa Carlson, chief executive of Canterbury Business Improvement District, said that roadworks around Westgate Towers were adding to an already "tough time" for local businesses.

"I know we can't please everyone with projects like this, but conceptually we can all understand short term pain for long term gain," she told BBC Radio Kent.

"At the same time there is disruption. There is a loss to business as a result of this."

She added that she thought this had been "the worst first quarter we've had since the pandemic" and called for more communication about why roadwork projects are necessary.

A Canterbury City Council spokesperson said the project was "desperately-needed" but "a complicated one in a very busy area of Canterbury".

They added: "We accept that it is causing some disruption to daily life, for which we apologise.

"We really hope that once it's done, businesses, residents and visitors will think it has all been worth it and that businesses in particular will benefit from increased public footfall in and around the Westgate Towers area."

A spokesperson for Kent County Council, the local highways authority, said: "Unfortunately, the works will cause disruption to this busy area of the city and we have been working with Canterbury City Council to try to minimise disruption to residents and businesses."

The Westgate was closed to vehicles in 2012 as part of an experiment to help preserve the landmark, but traffic problems meant the scheme was abandoned within 12 months.