TRADERS in a Blackburn road that has been closed for weeks have complained that their businesses are being ‘destroyed’.

Work on the gas main beneath Canterbury Street has been ongoing since March. The work began on the triangle near Byrom Street and has since moved back to the other side of Freckleton Street.

Business owners in the road have complained to the council and held a meeting on the site with Blackburn with Darwen Council chiefs and the National Grid.

Kamran Ilyas, director of Ashton Motors, which is directly opposite the roadworks, said: “They did not tell us why or for how long the road was being dug up.

“It is affecting the businesses in the area and we have been told signs will be put up to say businesses in Canterbury Street are still open.

“They told us at our meeting that it would be three weeks before the road is back open again. We have had problems with parking and there is no footfall.”

Canterbury Street MOT Centre boss Andrew Noblet said he had seen a massive reduction in trade.

He said: “People just don’t turn up. They avoid this area like the plague. This is destroying our business.”

Marcus Hobkirk of Hobkirks Sewing Machines said it was putting people off shopping in Blackburn.

He said: “People can’t get here, simple as that. We get a lot coming from out of town and they do not know how to get round to us.”

And Canterbury Street Fireplaces owner Stephen Everett said: “We have had a massive drop in business.

“The diversion signs don’t send people to Darwen Street either, they send them back in a figure of eight towards Asda and back down the bridge.”

Nobody from the National Grid was available for comment.