Continuing work on the Ironbridge Gorge is disruptive, say business owners
Business owners today spoke of the disruption they continue to face as works to stop the Ironbridge Gorge slipping into the river continue.
Contractors started the £17.6 million Jackfield stabilisation project last year and are about halfway through the works.
Gabrielle Turner, from Much Wenlock, who runs Scarlett's Cafe in the Maws Centre, said that the stabilisation work has had a significant impact on her business.
She said: "We rely on customers coming into our cafe and the number has reduced significantly, especially since October last year, when the temporary road turned into a mud bath.
"I have to say that the contractors McPhillips have been excellent, they have put in more footpaths and even wash my car.
"We have a monthly meeting involving the contractors, the parish council, Telford & Wrekin's Head of Projects, local residents and those who own businesses in the Maws Centre.
"The new road will be better than the old one and could bring us a lot more customers but that is the future and I am worried about the situation we face now."
Amanda Hillier, from Coalbrookdale, runs Amanda Hillier Print & Design in the Fusion Building, said: "We have escaped significant disruption as we are away from the main area of work, but we've found that people can be put off by the amount of heavy vehicles in the area."
Paul Hornby, from Telford, has run Coin Creations in the Maw's Craft Centre for 15 years and hasn't noticed a significant change in the volume of business.
He said: "We are lucky as the bulk of our business is done online or at craft fairs but we hope that when the work is done and the new road is in place, there will be an increase in the number of visitors we have.
"The poor state of the temporary road in the area of the stabilisation work keeps local people away, but people who travel a distance to see us aren't put off."
Businesses are still open during major works to stabilise a key part of Shropshire's World Heritage Site.
Contractors started the Jackfield Stabilisation Project last year to prevent landslides and try to reduce erosion and the movement of land in the Ironbridge Gorge.
The work consists of 2,000 steel piles being driven into the banks of the River Severn to stabilise the land and halt the land slip.
The scheme aims to stabilise the most active area of ground to allow a new highway to be built which will run between the end of the Tile Museum to near Maws Craft Centre to replace the existing road.
Hundreds of trees have been felled to make way for the main works, which will include earthworks, the treatment of mine workings, piling, river bank protection, drainage, highway work and landscaping.
The overall work will cost a total of £17.6 million with contributions made by the Government's Department for Communities and Local Government which has been part matched by Telford & Wrekin Council and is set to be completed by March 31, 2016.
As the work started, Russell Griffin, a spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "This land is slipping at a swift rate by UK standards as the Gorge continues to form and evolve.The work consists of 2,000 steel piles being driven into the banks to stabilise the land."
