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Roadworks causing 'dire' situation for town shop

BBC Craig Smith in his gift store on Mill Street with Christmas products in the background. BBC
Craig Smith, 51, runs Foxy Lots gift shop in Mill Street

A shop owner has raised concerns over Christmas trade amid claims town centre roadworks have led to a drop in customers.

Residents have also said getting into parts of Oakham has proved more difficult since work started in Brooke Road in July.

Restrictions have now been lifted for two hours in the day, to allow access for schoolchildren, but Craig Smith, owner of Foxy Lots gift store in nearby Mill Street, said: "You can just tell that it's just not a busy street at the moment."

Brooke Road is being widened and an entrance created for a new 40-home estate, with contractors Burmor Construction and Rutland County Council apologising for the inconvenience.

Red road work signs, traffic cones and metal barriers in Brooke Road in Oakham, with a digger in the background.
As of Monday 4 November, a footpath through the road closure on Brooke Road in Oakham will open on weekdays from 8am to 9am and from 3pm to 4pm

In a bid to improve access to the town centre, an extended bus service is being provided for residents and shoppers.

Mr Smith described the situation as "dire" and said his store should be seeing more customers with the festive period just around the corner.

He added: "We're heading up to peak trading now, so all our Christmas products are out, and really we should see a massive uplift now, and really it's not come yet."

Peter Comber wearing a poppy and flat cap in front of the Brooke Road road works.
Peter Comber, 85, said the roadworks were "a bit of a pain" for elderly residents

Residents have also spoken of their concern.

Peter Comber said he and his wife Jill, 80, had a longer journey to get into the town centre due to Brooke Road being closed.

"Most of us [here] are elderly, and we do have a problem walking right the way round," he added.

Mrs Comber believes the road closure "must be making an impact" on business in Mill Street.

"You just decide not to go this end of the high street; it is too much of a journey, really."

Heidi in her store entrance wearing a blue top and a red poppy pin
Heidi Kjeldsen owns a jewellery store on Mill Street but said her business has not been affected.

Heidi Kjeldsen has run her jewellery store, Heidi Kjeldsen Ltd, in Mill Street, since 1998 but has not experienced major problems so far.

"I'm finding people are coming and finding their way here without too many problems," Ms Kjeldsen said.

"It is annoying for them, I get that."

She added: "People are coming to me with a repair or an inquiry, so I'm not really just relying on people walking past me."

Blue and grey metallic railway bridge.
Elderly residents in the area have had to take the long route into town, which includes crossing this railway bridge in Braunston Road.

Rutland County Council said the reopening of Brooke Road would be delayed until 30 November due to "significant issues outside of Burmor Construction Ltd’s control".

The delays have been caused by tree felling and the "discovery of various utility services" not shown in plans or records, a statement from the council said.

A council statement added: "Both Burmor Construction Ltd and Rutland County Council apologise for the inconvenience that residents are experiencing because of the closure to Brooke Road.

"Regular users of this route will see a marked improvement in traffic and congestion once the work is complete, together with the building of 40 much-needed affordable homes."

Current arrangements for Brooke Road residents with suspended parking bays will remain the same during the period of extended closure.

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