Fury as business open signs removed from Wolverhampton's Bilston Road
Staff at a business in Wolverhampton say they are furious because roadwork officials have been taking down their signs that say 'Businesses open as usual', they claim.
Car dealer Mazcare has seen a significant impact on their business since the A41 Bilston Road was closed earlier this year as part of the Midland Metro extension works.
To combat this, the company paid for signs to be installed along the road to encourage people to still visit their business.
But Midland Metro has the signs do not comply with regulation and they have been taken down.
Ann Creed, director of Mazcare, said: "I think it's absolutely appalling.
"We have suffered so much because of this work. It feels like nobody has taken the time to find out how feel about it or consider what would happen to us when the work began.
"So we have paid hundreds to have these signs made and installed in key areas in the city. We only had them installed because our customers said to us that they were getting lost and that all the existing signs said was that the road was closed, when in fact our business and others were still open.
"I come in from Wednesfield every day and I see signs as far back as by Wednesfield High Academy. There's also signs on the Willenhall Road and the Bilston Island. We've put our signs there to try and indicate to drivers and customers that it's not all closed off.
"But then we noticed they were disappearing, and I've got photos that show they have been put in the back of Midland Metro workers' vans.
"It's just so frustrating."
The news is the latest in the Bilston Road saga which Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden has been working to try and resolve.
Earlier this week it was revealed that the MP's push to obtain compensation for affected businesses will not be successful.
Shervorne Brown, stakeholder liaison officer for Midland Metro, said in an email to Ms Creed that the signs are 'non-compliant' with regulations.
In the message she says: "Can I please ask that these signs are removed within the next 48 hours, or we will take the necessary steps to have them removed, and we will not be liable for any damages caused to signage."
A spokesman for Midlands Metro added: “Some signs on Bilston Road had to be removed recently for safety reasons due to the fact that a third party had drilled additional information into some of them, compromising the structural integrity.
“The Midland Metro Alliance continues to work closely with the Bilston Road residents and businesses to support them whilst our works are ongoing and ensure disruption is minimised wherever possible.
“We have provided both individual and collective marketing support since the project began in June and similarly, have even revised our work schedules to better support the needs of specific businesses.”
