Shop fears over roadworks

Roadworks have closed part of Cradley Heath High Street, which struggling traders say could finish their businesses off.

There has already been 18 months of disruption while the new bypass was being built to serve the giant new Tesco Extra in Foxoak Street. Now the High Street is closed in one direction, coming in from the Netherton side, for at least two weeks.

Double yellow lines have also been put in Upper High Street which has stopped a lot of passing trade, local shops say. Pamela Perrin, pictured, from shoe shop John Jones, which has traded since 1877, says it would not take much more for her business to go completely.

She said: "I have been here 20 years. I bought the shop from the Jones family. It is very much touch and go for me now.

"We've already had trade go down. Now the High Street is one way you can get down from Old Hill direction but not from the Netherton side without going on the bypass."

Janice Stokes, manager of Panache Fashions, said: "It's just a mess. People are waiting for buses along the High Street and they don't come as they've been diverted."

David James, of Cradley Heath Army Stores, said: "I'm not making a good living since the lines went down."

The new Tesco Extra store opened in Foxoak Street on September 24. The bypass work started in February 2006.

Sandwell Council said the work involved completing the bypass link roads which will continue until the beginning of December.

Councillor Bob Badham said: "I apologise for the delays but the bypass is a big project.

"We've got a policy of building supermarkets in town centres so people have easy access to the other facilities. As supermarkets are not out of town they are breathing new life into the town centre. It's then up to the small shops to offer specialist services."