Oxford's Frideswide Square roadworks hitting businesses

Barriers prevent pedestrians from easily crossing Oxford's Frideswide Square

Major roadworks in Oxford's Frideswide Square are hitting businesses and driving away customers, traders said.

Shop owners have criticised the length of time changes to the junction are taking and have said they are causing pedestrians to avoid Park End Street.

The work started in February and is expected to continue until December.

A spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said the "short term pain" would be worth it and measures had been taken to help businesses.

Amanda Suliman-Bell, of the Rainbow and Spoon boutique, said she was closing for a few weeks because of the drop off in business.

She said: "Our takings have been down. I don't want to spend all my budget whilst nobody is able to access my shop.

"I think the perception of people driving in and visiting Oxford is that Oxford is not on the map anymore.

"I think to get those people to come back after Frideswide Square is finished is going to be quite tough."

Upgrade works at Frideswide Square are expected to end in December

She said she had met with council representatives, along with other traders, and successfully argued for better signs and pedestrian crossings.

The owner of Mini Station newsagents Rida Kariem said: "It's absolutely horrible, it has been horrible.

"Hardly any customers walk in, and the dust, noise, everything - people are trying to avoid this area."

A spokesman for the county council said it had been in regular contact with the traders and put up signs and banners to direct people to their businesses.

He said: "We have also been very keen throughout the work to positively promote the fact that the businesses are there and very much open and accessible."

It was also recently announced that the roadworks would go on for an extra hour-and-a-half each day, as well as on Saturdays.