Closed Teme Bridge loses Tenbury Wells trader £20K a week

A garage owner in Tenbury Wells has claimed he is losing £20,000 a week following the closure of Teme Bridge for major repairs.

Phil James, co-director of Swan Garage on the A456 next to the bridge, said takings had slumped since work started on January 9. He added if trade got any worse he would have to consider closing his petrol pumps. The bridge, which is undergoing £1 million repairs to masonry, is closed to traffic until March 16.

Traders claim the closure has forced many shoppers away, with disastrous results for the local economy.

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Measures have been brought in by Worcestershire County Council, Malvern Hills District Council and Tenbury Town Council to help traders, including a £50,000 fighting fund.

A Tenbury Wells is Open for Business group has been set up to raise the profile of shops and a loyalty scheme launched. There are temporary car parks on either side of the bridge for shoppers, and spaces at Burford Parish Hall for traders to park.

But Mr James said: "We are currently losing £20,000 a week because of the bridge closure. I think it has had an effect on the number of people using the A456. There are definitely less cars passing the garage. We recently extended the store in the garage which is doing quite well. If the sales fell on goods being sold in the shop we would have to look at shutting down the pumps."

Sadie Chalkley, managing director of JG Banfield & Sons and president of Tenbury Chamber of Trade, said aspects of the fighting fund were working but all retailers had been affected.

She said: "We are having the same problems as the garage. I would not like to give figure but we are down by about half."

Ken Pollock, Worcestershire county councillor for Tenbury Wells, said "We are very concerned about the drop in trade businesses are suffering.

But word is getting around about the car parks and we hope this will help boost trade."