'Misunderstanding' over Ellesmere roadworks keeping visitors away, traders fear

Business owners fear people wrongly believe the resurfacing works are taking place in the day rather than overnight, which is causing them to stay away.

Work, which is set to take up to two weeks to complete, started on Monday on the A495 Willow Street and Sparbridge roundabout.

But contractors have been carrying out work overnight from 7pm to 7am to minimise disruption.

Carey Egerton, owner of Brights clothes shop and member of Ellesmere Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "We are finding it quite bizarre. People can't be reading the signs properly.

"We think it is affecting things and making it quieter in the town.

"I know it's difficult and the roadworks need to be carried out, be we just want to reaffirm that the town is open in the day and the roadworks are being carried out at night.

"Not so long ago we had road closures in the town centre for gas works. They were obviously not very nice and did disrupt the town, but whether people were better informed of what was going on then I don't know."

Lincoln McMullan, owner of The Signtists and member of the chamber of trade and commerce, said: "The town does seem a lot quieter this week. Whether it is anything to do with the roadworks I don't know.

"Perhaps people are not reading the signs correctly and think work is taking place from 7am to 7pm rather than 7pm to 7am."

But he added: "That work doesn't really affect me like other businesses in the town as most of my business happens outside the town."

Councillor Ian Ward, mayor of Ellesmere, said disruption is inevitable but Shropshire Council and its consultants Mouchel did come to the town council to try and make sure they minimised disruption as much as possible.

Access to properties is available and emergency services are being allowed through during the road closures.