Wem traders hit by new road closure
Business owners in Wem say road works are driving their customers away.
The B5065 Soulton Road, one of the main roads into Wem, is closed between Churchill Drive and Cordwell Park while Severn Trent upgrades the water pipes.
It is the second time the road has been closed this year, following emergency work to fix a collapsed sewer between January 23 and February 5.
Motorists are having to follow a diversion of almost 10 miles around the A49 because a shorter route is cut off by flooding in Church Lane.
Annette Harrison owns the Maltings Cafe at Wem Business Park and said the number of lorries stopping in the town had fallen drastically.
She said: "I do take-away breakfasts but that has been down about 30 per cent."
Holly Edwards, from Tiphany's Cafe, on Wem Industrial Estate, said people were still coming from the town, but 'any other trade has been cut off'. The road closed on Monday and will remain shut until Wednesday next week.
Mike Edwards, 53, lives in Cordwell Park and travels down Soulton Road every day to work at Timber Frame Services on the industrial estate.
He also uses the road every lunchtime to check on his elderly mother.
He said: "The planning and execution appear to be totally without sympathy. For the haulage company subcontracted to our business every round trip is costing an extra £40 of diesel because they can't take the narrow lanes and there are weight limits."
Mayor of Wem, Councillor Peter Broomhall, said: "It is having an effect on Wem. We are a bit concerned. It is unfortunate that all the roadworks have been close together but this work is during half term to minimise the impact."
A spokeswoman for Severn Trent said the work was essential and apologised for the inconvenience.
