Retailers count cost of roadworks' impact on trade

Traders in Willenhall have told how roadworks in the area are "extremely challenging" for their businesses.

A number of roads are under construction, causing congestion across the area and a lack of footfall for shops in the town.

Lavan Sivalingham, who runs Ajesh Superstores on New Road, said: "It's very, very quiet, I am sitting inside doing nothing because people aren't coming."

A Walsall Council spokesperson said businesses could apply for rate relief if they were found to be financially impacted by "severe disruption from roadworks".

Mr Sivalingham said the effect on his shop had been huge: "There is no bus stop any more, so my business has gone down 60% straight away. I can't pay my mortgage, I can't pay my rent, I can't pay my invoices."

Lavan Sivalingham said he could not pay his bills because of the amount of money he was losing because of the work

The roadworks are part of the construction of a new railway station, being delivered by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).

Further up the road from the supermarket, a family-run florist and funeral business said it had also been impacted by the work.

Joe Evans, from Jennifer Ashe & Son, said: "Seeing as the road is now a one-way system, it means people aren't paying attention to the businesses that we have, and the items that are on offer outside.

"The florist has been severely affected and the profitability is down month on month from what we're expecting in sales."

Work for the station is taking place on Bilston Street and New Road.

But at the same time, work is also taking place on Noose Lane, Pinson Road and Rose Hill for a new cycle scheme.

At rush hour, the traders say, parts of the town are experiencing slow traffic for long periods.

"Being a funeral directors, as you can imagine we have cars arriving and departing the branch at all times of the day, so this is severely affecting the funeral times," Mr Evans said.

"So we are having to make adjustments to cater for the fact that sometimes there is a standstill traffic queue outside our premises."

Jennifer Ashe & Son, a family run florist and funeral business, says it has also been impacted by the work

A council spokesperson said: "We understand that roadworks and the resulting congestion can be incredibly frustrating for residents and businesses alike, and we want to thank everyone for their patience as we work to deliver this much-needed regeneration activity as swiftly and safely as possible.

"The funding grant conditions imposed on the council mean that on this occasion nearby projects must be delivered concurrently, and the traffic management has been designed to safely deliver all the works in the shortest possible time."

A TfWM spokesperson said construction work was due to finish in August, and that it had worked with partners including the council to co-ordinate the work with that on the new cycleway to help keep disruption to a minimum.