WESTBURY business owners are urging customers not to be deterred by road closures in the town and to carry on supporting them.
The town centre started to suffer when the A350 was closed between Bitham Park roundabout and West End on Monday 27th October. The road will remain closed for four weeks, with all works expected to be complete by Saturday 29th November.
The main diversion – in place for heavy goods vehicles – has seen traffic rerouted through Southwick, over five miles away, and has meant serious problems for shops and businesses in the town centre.
But local businesses are saying it’s ‘Business as Usual’ and are urging local people to make the extra effort to support them in what is traditionally the busiest time of the year for many of them.
Shopkeepers are encouraging shoppers not to be put off by confusing signage, saying that the town is more accessible than they are led to believe.
Gary Davies, who owns the Davies hardware store on Edward Street, said, “We’re still open; that’s the message we’d like to get over and, I have to say, people are doing fantastically well at still coming into town. There haven’t been any major problems yet, and it’s important that we continue to encourage locals into the town.
“There are still ways into the town centre and almost everywhere is fully accessible. Businesses are all open as usual, and we really appreciate people’s efforts to continue supporting us.
“It’s a huge inconvenience, but we knew it was coming. The signage is my main gripe – smaller roads where there are no works at all have signs by them. There’s a sign in Warminster that says there’s no access to Westbury at all; some of them are just not true. If you want to get into town, the best thing to do is to drive wherever you want until a workman or a barrier stops you.”
Vanessa Petrie of Alan Petrie Motors said, “We’ve had to turn to social media to let people know we’re open at all. Business dropped from day one, and it’s seriously concerning that this is set to continue for five weeks – people’s jobs are in danger.
“To have shut off the town like this is the worst thing that’s happened since we started here – how does the council expect businesses to survive when nobody can get into the town? The work should be done at nights and weekends like it was in Yarnbrook.
“But we would urge local people to carry on supporting us and help us get through these difficult few weeks.”
The roadworks involve reconstruction and resurfacing of the carriageway, footway and kerbing works, drainage repairs, replacement of road markings and the adjustment of ironwork such as drain covers. Wiltshire Council is investing more than £400,000 in improving the vital route.
In spite of the road closure, all First buses and Frome minibus services will continue to run as normal at least until Monday 24th November, when they may experience disruption in the roadworks’ final week.
A statement from contractors at the end of week one confirmed that the roadworks were on schedule, and that works and signage are checked on a daily basis for compliance and safety.
Pictured: Gary Davies insists it’s business as usual.
