My trade will be devastated when bridge is closed

They are expecting trade to plummet due to the closure of Powick bridge for essential repairs for six weeks from Saturday, July 21.

The traders are still recovering from weeks of roadworks in Bromwich Road last year when Transco undertook gas main work.

Nick Baxter, Worcester Wine Company owner, said: "It is going to be devastating on the retail trade in Bromwich Road. Nobody will be coming down this road. I am very concerned about it. We were affected by the road works last year. I am still negotiating for compensation. I am genuinely concerned about my business - 90 per cent is passing trade."

He said he was setting up a website so that if the business did not come to him, he would go to the business.

"We deliver anywhere in Worcester," he said.

"Hopefully, the website will help stem the flow but we have just got to get on with it. The bulk of my business is from the summer to Christmas."

Trevor Rogers, who has run Roger's General Stores, Bromwich Road, Worcester, for three years, said: "We have already been hit with the gas main work and the resurfacing work on Bromwich Road.

"Everyone in Bromwich Road will be affected again when the bridge closes. It will cost us £2,500 a week. Thirty five per cent of our trade is passing trade.

"I am speaking for every business. I still think that there should be alternative proposals. It is a main road into the town. They should have done these things years ago when they built the new bridge over the Severn.

"There will not be any small businesses around soon. This is a busy road and to have it closed for six weeks will cause tremendous chaos."

A spokeswoman for Whitbread, which owns the Manor Farm pub and restaurant on Malvern Road, Lower Wick, said: "We do rely on passing trade and there will be quite a significant knock-on effect, but it is not like Manor Farm will be empty. It will rely on people from the St John's area to keep it going."