Relief for traders as key route reopens to traffic

Pavements have been widened in St John Street

Business owners have welcomed the reopening of one of the main routes through Ashbourne following a lengthy closure due to regeneration work.

St John Street has been closed to traffic since March to allow pavements to be widened as part of the government-funded Ashbourne Reborn project.

Anne Wright, who owns a clothes shop on the street, said the town was already looking more attractive.

However traders in nearby Dig Street said takings were still suffering as they wait for their road to reopen in November.

Work is still continuing on Dig Street in Ashbourne that runs off St John Street

The £15.9m Ashbourne Reborn project is being funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Ms Wright said: "When we started this work five years ago St John Street looked dreadful, there were so many empty shops, so many derelict buildings.

"With the promise of this work we have got so many businesses opened up on the road."

There is still work to be done on Millennium Square, just off the St John Road and trees will be planted on Shrovetide Walk, between Dig Street and the Shawcroft car park.

Deli owner Tom Ertman said that his takings had dipped throughout the summer

Tom Ertman, who runs the Cheddar Gorge deli in Dig Street, said his takings had dipped by 15% due to the work and he did not expect this to improve until vehicles were allowed back.

"I am not taking as much money home from the business," he said. "It is upsetting because you put a lot of work in.

"Last year I had a very good year and I would have liked to grow the business more in 2025 but events outside of my control mean that I am down on the three most important months of the year."

He added that traffic congestion had also put people off visiting the town, leading to a drop in footfall.

Cafe owner James Pomlett said the work had caused a lot of disruption

James Pomlett, who owns the cafe Poms on St John Street, said his takings had been down by 50% this summer.

"It looks fantastic. It has been a hell of a lot of investment but a hell of a lot disruption," he said.

"So hopefully it's been worth it and people come out and it brings Ashbourne back to life and people really come and enjoy it."

Derbyshire Dales District Council, which is responsible for the overall management of the project said public meetings and drop-in sessions had been held to help businesses but no compensation would be offered.

A spokesperson said "There is no statutory provision for compensation by the Highway Authority (Derbyshire County Council) if a business is affected by roadworks, and the Highway Authority does not provide compensation for works undertaken for public benefit.

"Successive governments have taken the view that businesses should not have the right in law to any particular given level of passing trade, and that traders must take the risk of loss due to temporary disruption of traffic flows along with all the other various risks of running a business, so this position is in line with national policy."