Telford gripped by roadworks hell

Workmen have been sent out to carry out repairs and resurfacing across the borough during the summer, when roads are quieter.

But it has brought long delays for workers and shoppers travelling around the area.

And traders fear it is also affecting business by deterring potential shoppers.

• Scroll down to see the 17 sets of roadworks

There are two sets of roadworks in Wellington alone, with water repairs on Oaks Crescent and maintenance on four roads that form the town's Ring Road.

Adam Barsby, a sales assistant at Jaynes Fishing Tackle and Gun Shop in Market Street, Wellington said: "There has been a lot of people saying that it is a nightmare to get into the town.

"I do think we would have had more customers if the council had decided to stagger the works rather than have them being done all at once.

"I understand it is cost effective to do it all at the same time but it would be better if it was in stages. A lot of other shop owners are saying the same thing."

Robin Melley, chairman of Telford Business Partnership, said work being carried out on busy routes such as the A442 and M54 were causing significant disruption.

He said improvements to the road network would be a good thing for local businesses – so long as traders and entrepreneurs were consulted first.

Mr Melley said: "It's a logical decision to carry out roadworks during the school summer holidays as there is generally less traffic. But the combination of so many projects taking place at the same time is causing a real headache for businesses who need to operate throughout the summer months."

Councillor Bill McClements, cabinet member for resources, said it made sense financially for so many roadworks projects to be taken on at once, adding: "Contractors are giving us better prices if they have big jobs so it's cheaper for them and they are giving us good contracts."

The borough hot-spots - as seen on the map above

1 Horton Lane, Hortonwood – patching.

2 Station Road, Donnington – surface dressing.

3 Church Road, Lilleshall – surface dressing.

4 Eight local roads in Donnington – patching.

5 Local roads in Trench – patching.

6 Local roads in Hadley – patching.

7 Shawbirch roundabout and A442 – patching.

8 Admaston – rail bridge repairs and water works.

9 Junction 6-7 M54 – Highways Agency repairs.

10 Oaks Crescent, Wellington – water repairs.

11 Local roads in Wellington, including the town's ring road – rolling patching and road repairs.

12 Dawley Road over the M54 – road closed for work on motorway below.

13 Ainsdale Drive and Priorslee Avenue, Priorslee – road repairs and phone cable installation.

14 Telford town centre box road reconfiguration and Highways Agency work at M54 junction 5.

15 New Road/King Street/High Street, Dawley – changes to road system in order to create an access to the new Phoenix Academy school site.

16 Local roads in Stirchley – surface dressing and patching

17 Naird Lane, Stirchley – patching