Bridge work will bankrupt us (From Evesham Journal)

Bridge work will bankrupt us

8:00am Friday 20th July 2012 in News

SMALL firms in Evesham will be ‘finished’ by the time the bridge works are completed if other routes are not opened up quickly, say business owners.

Residents and traders are still waiting to hear from the county council what the alternative routes will be when Abbey Bridge is closed for 10 weeks next year. However, there are fears that the water works on the bridge which caused traffic chaos are a taste of what is to come.

David Badham, owner of Indy Mobility, said: “When the bridge is closed, the town centre will be like the M25.

Although we are based on the business park we deliver to a lot of people in the town.

The drivers are wasting time every day stuck in traffic or having to take a longer route to avoid the queues. Small businesses will be finished by the time the work is done.

They need to open the alternative routes now.”

Resident James Powell, of Greenhill, said he was unhappy with the way the bridge project had been conducted.

He plans to start a pressure group to influence similar schemes in future.

“It seems ridiculous,” said Mr Powell. “People are facing major delays. They should open the alternative routes up before they let anyone near the bridge again.”

The Severn Trent works causing the delays at the junctions of Abbey Road, Cheltenham Road, Waterside and Pershore Road had been due to finish on Wednesday, August 8, but were completed three weeks ahead of schedule last Saturday.

Jon Fraser, of the county council, said it would contact Severn Trent to discuss the works. He said: “Businesses must contact Severn Trent if it has had a detrimental effect on their trade.”