BUSINESSES and councillors living and working in a village near Worcester are up in arms because roadworks that should have taken 10 days to complete are still going on four months later.

Shops and the post office in Fernhill Heath have reported a 50 per cent loss in trade, while Jim Goodwin, owner of the White Hart pub, said work to improve the T-junction at Hurst Lane and the A38 Droitwich road has cost him about £300 in business every day since work began on Friday, December 15, last year.

Five holes still remain on the road and pathway while work continues to widen the road, install a pedestrian refuge, and paint road markings at the junction.

The work - carried out by David Payne Homes as a part of a deal to build a housing development called Hindlip Gardens - has been repeatedly delayed because the firm initially did not have permission from Wychavon District Council to start the work, discovered an unexpected gas main, and had to re-install street lighting.

Linda Jefferey, owner of Fernhill Heath Post Office and Stores for 21 years, said the roadworks had seen her lose trade from villagers and passers-by.

She said: "It's ruining my business. They're trying to shut post offices down as it is."

Meanwhile, Alan Kasch, owner of Supershop, said he might be forced to temporarily lay off some members of staff until the work is finished.

He said: "It's affected our business. A lot of my customers say they haven't called in because they have gone the back way or used rat runs."

We reported last week that work is now under way and nearing completion, but there are fears the pedestrian refuge is 5cm (50mm) too narrow and will be failed by the safety officer from Worcestershire County Council.

John Carter, North Claines Parish Council chairman, said he could not understand why there had been so many complications after he was told by the district council the work would take 10 days at a cost of about £30,000.

He said: "Communication has been one of the biggest problems. It's a sad example of local authorities actually not talking to each other and that's got to improve."

District councillor Paul Coley added: "This has been a blueprint for disaster from start to finish. The sufferers have been local businesses and residents of our community. It needs to be sorted quickly."

David Payne Homes declined to comment.