'Roadworks are impacting our trade' say businesses

Roadworks have been going on since February in Victoria Place, Eastbourne

Businesses in Eastbourne say two separate roadwork schemes running at the same time are impacting trade.

The two schemes are part of plans to create a 0.6 mile (0.96km) pedestrianised route from Eastbourne Station to the seafront.

The Victoria Place works continued on 8 September after pausing over summer for the tourist season, while the other phase on Terminus Road near the Beacon shopping centre started on the same day.

East Sussex County Council said the project would "create a vibrant and attractive town centre" and said it would continue to work closely with traders to try to keep disruption to a minimum.

Heidi Durrant, manager at The Old Fashioned Humbug Shop, said: "The businesses have all been saying they're about 60 to 80% down this year. We all knew it would be down but didn't realise how bad it would be.

"So hopefully once the works are finished, it will go back to the normal. It has been a real bind on the businesses this year, hopefully businesses can survive this year to be able to have next year.

"We've been here 75 years so we don't want our shop closing because of the roadworks going on."

Heidi Durrant, manager of The Old Fashioned Humbug Shop, says business have struggled in Victoria Place since the works started in February

Mark Hunt, owner of DMZ clothes shop, said his shop had not been badly affected because most customers found it on social media.

However, he said that "nearly every other business owner" he spoke to was "struggling and finds they are way down on last year", he added.

Michael Howells, owner of 7Ply Skate Store, said his business was affected by the works in Langney Road.

"I was severely impacted last week, I had railings all outside the shop, vans and diggers," he said.

"Most of my trade would come from Terminus Road, that's where most the disruption is.

"I feel people get to that corner, see all the roadworks and think it's not worth coming down."

Works have blocked off one side of the pavement in Langney Road

An East Sussex County Council spokesperson said: "We appreciate the disruption the works are causing and are aware of the concerns raised by local businesses.

"We will continue to work closely with the borough council and traders in a bid to keep disruption to a minimum and ensure access to businesses is maintained throughout."

Councillor Colin Swansborough, cabinet member for regulatory services and enterprise, said Eastbourne Borough Council completely understood the frustrations of businesses.

He added: "While this work will pay great dividends in the future, it is obviously a real concern, and we urge the county council to do all it can to support the businesses affected."