Essential Shrewsbury town centre roadworks delayed

Shropshire Council told shopkeepers in Shoplatch that the road outside their businesses would be closed to traffic this Sunday as well as the following Sunday – but work has since been postponed due to "unforeseen resource issues".

Businesses in the area have said postponing the work until later in the year could have an even larger impact on trade. Gwen Burgess, from Darwin's Cafe, said: "It is dreadful news.

"I have heard that the closure could happen now at the end of June or July.

"The summer days are the busiest days of the year and I've been told there is no compensation. It might only be a few hundred pounds to them, but that makes a big difference to me.

"Once you reach July, Sundays really matter – even the two dates in June would have been better.

"But it could be done in the evening – overnight road closures wouldn't affect anybody.

"They say pedestrians could still come down, but nobody will walk down here when the road is closed."

The road was set to be closed for the next two Sundays from 8am until 6am on the Monday for work to install new drainage and gas connections to student accommodation at Mardol House.

Traffic was set be diverted via the Town Walls and Claremont Bank route.

And to minimise any extra problems, Shropshire Council arranged further work including a temporary crane installation on High Street and maintenance work in Shoplatch to take place at the same time.

A number of dates are being looked at by the council, but it has confirmed that the closure will not clash with the Shrewsbury Food Festival.

But traders fear the work will have a knock-on effect on business, even if it does not coincide with the popular event.

Androulla Marneros, directing manager of restaurant The Drayton, said: "Road closure reduces trade by about a half.

"When the kids are off school, those are our busiest days. Ideally, it would be nice if they could do it before then.

"It would have a considerable impact – a lot don't come down if the road is closed."

There is already limited public access to shops along the road and work has been going on in the area since Easter.

In a statement Shropshire Council said further details on when work will resume will be announced soon.