A SHOP owner in Evesham and a Worcestershire County Council candidate have raised concerns about the council’s decision to begin new roadworks on Port Street.

Work is set to get underway on Monday, April 19, to make improvements to Port Street and at the Waterside/Port Street Junction, as part of county council’s plan to relieve congestion in the town centre.

Paul Turner, the owner of Vale Cycles bike store in Port Street, expressed concerns that the roadworks could have an impact on customers being able to visit the street following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

He said: “The roadworks have got to be done but it does seem a strange time to do it.

“Also, the duration that it’s going to take is somewhat very different to when the pavements were done fifteen or so years ago, they were done in four weeks not four months.

“I think they should make more of an effort to do it in a sensible time scale.

“One of the headaches is not being able to get our customers into the street, and a lot of our customers are entitled to park in the street, and although we’re a bicycle shop we get a lot of disabled customers bringing in equipment such as wheelchair wheels so that’s going to be quite a problem for them.”

Matt Snape, Reform Party UK candidate for the Evesham South seat on Worcestershire County Council, said the council’s decision to begin the roadworks as the town is reopening following the third national lockdown was ‘badly timed’.

He said: ‘Whilst I support the principle behind the Port Street roadworks, which will add many improvements to the street in the long-term, I cannot believe how badly timed and insensitive these roadworks are.

“The people of Evesham have witnessed many shops in this town disappear since 2008, and the county council have done nothing to support Evesham’s infrastructure following their announcement of the Port Street roadworks.

“This move will not bring many people into the town’s shops.”

A spokeswoman for the county council said: “Improvement schemes of this nature have to be planned 12 months in advance of work beginning on site. This is to co-ordinate contractors and to obtain permission to carry out necessary road closures.These works are part of a wider programme of town centre and Highway improvements. Pedestrian access to businesses will be maintained throughout the works although road closures will be required at times. We have liaised with residents and businesses and this will continue as the scheme progresses.”