‘Impact of roadworks is worse than the pandemic for businesses’

Main roads are seeing new junctions, pedestrian crossings and cycle routes, as part of the Accessible Nelson and Nelson Town Deal transport and regeneration schemes. Other utility work is happening too.

Some business owners are angry at the impact and timing. Some feel elements such as new cycleways are not needed, or claim there has been little or no consultation.

Lancashire County Council, the main authority for roads, and Pendle Council are involved in the schemes, along with others. They say the works will improve the flow of all traffic and pedestrians, boost pubic spaces and ‘gateway’ areas,  and aid regeneration.

Kevin Schofield, of Schofield Butchers on Scotland Road, said: “I’m £3,000 down on what I should be this month and this road work is going on for 12 weeks.  This is the period leading up to Christmas. They’re widening the pavements, putting in cycle lanes and new pedestrian crossings. But people can’t get parked on the main roads now because a lot of the old spaces are unavailable for one reason or another.

“For the first time ever, I’ve had to throw meat away this week. We’ve been in business for over 30 years. We have customers from as far away as Bradford and Leeds, as well as from the local area – Nelson, Burnley, Barrowford and Colne. Some take very large orders while others buy smaller orders, just pop-in for a couple of pies or something small.

“Customers are having difficulty finding parking spaces or being put-off coming to Nelson by the traffic queues. Parts of the town are  gridlocked. People aren’t going to come here if it takes 25 minutes  to get through traffic lights. It’s the same for the fish-and-chip shop next door.

He added: “In my view, Manchester Road should never have been restricted years ago. That’s the key road through the main town centre. Work was done there years ago, creating new arrangements and diverting a lot of traffic.

“Another issue is people parking their cars on outlying streets like Scotland Road for over an hour. You never see a traffic warden so parking is not being policed. It seems that everything is against us.”

On road work consultation, he said: “We wrote letters about the  plans and there was a meeting held in another business nearby, which we didn’t know about.”

He has spoken to an accountant to see of compensation might be available. He said many smaller businesses in the area are not required to pay business rates, which was a help.

‘WORSE IMPACT THAN PANDEMIC’

Amir Khan from the AH Interiors furniture shop said: “Our sales are down £130,000 in recent weeks. Yet they seem to think a 30-year-old business, like this, can simply survive all this ?  Everywhere, the streets are clogged. We thought the work and investment was focused on the town centre.  But nobody consulted us on this, never.  It’s as if the pot of funding is there, so it’s got to be spent.

“The focus should be on the core town centre, getting big anchor retailers to attract customers. Nelson isn’t a big town. It doesn’t need all these road changes and cycle ways.

“Students walk up and down to Nelson & Colne College at Barrowford. Many people walk. Nelson isn’t a big town which needs lots of cycle routes.  It would have been better to build a cycle way to Brierfield, which is a flat route. There aren’t lots of leisure cyclists coming here. It’s not like cycling in the countryside. ”

‘DELIVERIES DELAYED’

Ikram Sharif, part-owner of Super Autosaver, said: “The covid pandemic was easier on us, as a business, than these road works. All the main roads are having work of one type or another, including utilities work – Leeds Road, Manchester Road, outside Nelson railway station and Scotland Road.

“Its effecting our deliveries of stock, meaning we haven’t always got the items to sell. We sell parts like bulbs, tyres and wipers. Normally, I can order items on a Monday and they’ll be here by Tuesday. But now, it’s arriving on Thursdays.

“Shop takings are down and we’re having to dip into savings. Winter is usually a busy time for car parts businesses. Normally, there’s a queue through the door at this time of year. But not at the moment.

“And here are usually four or five car parking spaces directly outside the shop. But they’re not available at the moment. I’m hoping they’ll come back. Some customers are disabled. Some have to park three or four streets away to find a space.

“Also I don’t understand why new cycle lanes are needed on both sides of the road? One would be enough. The roads will be narrower. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

He added: “There was a meeting nearby with the Lancashire County Council. They said they’d be consultation and they’d discuss road designs with us. But, to me, it seems like they just carried on regardless. Going by memory. the meeting was on a Thursday and work began on the following Monday.

‘FRUSTRATING’

Lola McEvoy, operations manager at Star Print, also on Scotland Road, said: “We’ve only been in this current office for a few months. We were expecting easier parking here in this part of Nelson but then all the  roads works began.

“We were previously based near Nelson & Colne College and the Thatch and Thistle pub, on the Barrowford side. But we used to struggle with car parking there and some of us were getting fines for running over the time limits. We thought we’d move to this new location and customers would be able to park for a bit longer.  But then a lot of the local parking spaces were closed, so it feels quite frustrating.

“In the longer term, some of these road works might be good for Nelson. But I’m not sure how much the new cycle paths will be used? Hopefully the changes with Pendle Rise and other investment will bring more new custom to the town.  Nelson town centre has been quite run-down for a long time.”

More: Man taken to hospital after armed police called to ‘disturbance’ on Blackburn road

More: 27 hours of non-stop rain and strong winds set to batter Blackburn

COUNCIL COMMENT

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “The Accessible Nelson improvements are part of the Nelson Town Deal, led by Pendle Borough Council. Lancashire County Council is delivering the scheme and contributing most of the funding, with support from national programmes. The scheme was developed with local consultation and will provide safer junctions, improved crossings and better access for pedestrians and cyclists, helping to make the town centre more attractive and accessible in the long term.

“We recognise that roadworks can be disruptive for businesses, particularly at this time of year, and we’re working hard to minimise the impact. We are coordinating our work with Pendle Borough Council and utility companies, who have a legal right to upgrade their networks, to reduce disruption as much as possible.

“We are actively monitoring disruption and have plans in place to help ease congestion in the run‑up to the Christmas period. If businesses have specific concerns, we encourage them to contact us directly so we can look into the issues.”