Roadworks 'mean businesses struggling to pay rent'

Business owners near Bridgwater town centre say roadworks have led to them using personal funds to make rent payments.

The Celebration Mile project in Eastover, which will make the route between the rail station and docks pedestrian-only, has led to months of roadworks.

The town's MP Ashley Fox said his constituents are "angry" at the "cumulative" roadworks in Bridgwater, and blamed Somerset Council for the "chaos".

The council said the closures mean the work will be completed earlier and the high street remains open to pedestrians.

Mandy Maskell, who owns Posh Recycled in the Eastover Indoor Market, said on a typical day before the road closure, she was able to make enough money to pay her rent.

"There was always lots of customers milling through," she added.

"Now I'm having to take it out of my own personal money to pay my rent.

"We're all trying to meet our rent every week, but lots of us aren't - it's a massive struggle now."

Ms Maskell said it has been "incredibly stressful" since the road closure was introduced.

There have also been works at Dunball Roundabout to the north of the town, as well as recent closures on the Bath Road to support the construction of the new Agratas plant.

Conservative MP for Bridgwater Ashley Fox said the numerous roadworks happening at the same time had made people "angry".

"I don't think [Somerset] Council is fully thinking about the consequences for residents and businesses of the cumulative effect of all these closures.

"It's causing chaos," he added.

Mr Fox said businesses in Eastover have "practically dried up", claiming the contractor changed its mind by imposing a full closure, rather than a partial one as previously thought.

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: "We do understand the concerns of traders and we want to get the work done so they, and the rest of Bridgwater, can start to feel the benefit of the scheme.

"The council adds that it's been in regular contact with traders throughout the project and while the decision to close the road wasn't taken lightly, it will mean the work should be finished around two months earlier than expected.

"Eastover remains fully open to pedestrians and shoppers."

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