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Businesses 'struggling' during roadworks project

Joanna Taylor
BBC News, Peterborough
JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC Faizal Mahmood wearing a maroon polo shirt with the name 'Nafees' embroidered and a maroon cap. Behind him are several shelves of cakes and desserts behind glass as well as shelves with boxes of biscuits and cakes. JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
Faizal Mahmood said his dessert shop Nafees had seen a sharp decline in customers since the roadworks began

Businesses along a busy city road have said they are struggling while a "cafe culture" redevelopment project takes place.

Shops and cafés on Lincoln Road in Peterborough reported a sharp reduction in customers after part of the pavement was fenced off and a one-way traffic system introduced.

The improvement works in the heart of Millfield will result in wider walkways and a new pedestrian crossing but Mohammed Farooq, owner of Chicken Palace on Lincoln Road, said "about 65% of our business is gone."

Peterborough City Council said it was "trying to put in as much mitigation as possible" for businesses.

JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC Mohammed Farooq wearing black glasses, a navy jacket and lighter blue shirt is smiling at the camera and resting his hands on a white counter. Behind him are silver counters with fried chicken laid out, red takeaway boxes and posters with price lists. JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
Mohammed Farooq said customer numbers to his fried chicken shop have more than halved

Mr Farooq told the BBC: "People can hardly walk along the path."

Metal gates were erected around the work site between the junctions with Windmill Street and Searjeant Street while the pavements were extended.

Faizal Mahmood, manager of Nafees, said his South Asian sweets and bakery business was "totally dead".

He said businesses which could deliver food to customers were less affected, but his goods must be kept refrigerated.

"We are suffering right now," he added.

The £3.5m works to Lincoln Road were funded in part by the government's Towns Fund designed to encourage economic growth in struggling areas.

JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC Maroon shop sign that reads 'Nafees Bakers and Sweets' above glass-fronted shop. There are posters on the glass and a sign which says 'Celebrate with us!'. To the left of the shop there is a silver gate fencing off a road. JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
Nafees Bakers and Sweets said it used to attract queues of customers
JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC A yellow road sign which reads 'Business Open as Usual' stands on a road. Behind it is a road with cones, a maintenance vehicle and more road signs.JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
The works affect a stretch of Lincoln Road in Millfield, Peterborough

Peterborough City Council has said the changes aim to encourage people to walk and cycle in the area and bring a boost to the local economy.

The work is due to continue until spring 2026.

Zameer Aziz, owner of dessert restaurant Chocoberry on Lincoln Road, said the redevelopments were a "positive" for his business.

"Hopefully it'll bring new people and people will be excited to come to this road rather than thinking about it in a negative way," he said.

JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC A digger scooping up dirt in front of new paving slabs. To the left, there are shops including Chocoberry, which has a red store front. JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
New pavement has been installed in front of dessert restaurant Chocoberry

"It's a positive thing for us. It's just that we need to make sure that things progress faster. It's a bit too slow.

"But overall I think it's a good thing and a good development for the area," he said.

Angus Ellis, both a ward councillor for Millfield and Peterborough's cabinet member for environment and transport, said he understood there would be "some disruption" while the works took place.

KATE MOSER ANDON/BBC Angus Ellis wearing a grey jacket, white shirt and burgundy tie. He is also wearing a lanyard that says 'councillor'. He is looking at the camera in front of a blurred white background. KATE MOSER ANDON/BBC
Councillor Angus Ellis said the works could be a 'catalyst for regeneration'

"There was a concern about deliveries to the businesses," he said.

"We've put in some mitigations to make sure there's some parking spaces for the deliveries they need."

Ellis said businesses were also being sent newsletters updating them about the works, adding the council was "actively promoting the area" on social media.

"This is a catalyst for regeneration. Once this is done, in the future we can look at what else is possible," he added.

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