Droitwich High Street works 'will be finished by the end of November' - The Droitwich Standard

Droitwich High Street works 'will be finished by the end of November'

Droitwich Editorial 20th Oct, 2017   0

COUNTY bosses have confirmed the £650k revamp of Droitwich’s High Street is on target to be completed by the end of next month.

The controversial scheme, which has left roadworks blocking the usually busy road, aims to make the town centre more welcoming to visitors and shoppers.

Set to be finished at the end of November, the next steps will see the carriageway surfaced this month and block work installed at either end of the High Street to create a gateway feature.

The project has gained £500,000 funding from Worcestershire County Council and a further £150,000 from Wychavon District Council.




But the roadworks, which have been in place since spring, have left traders fearing for the future of their businesses.

Speaking to The Standard, Sadwinger Singh of Droitwich Spa Fish Bar, said: “It is just rubbish, this has been going on for eight months now.


“All day I have made £20 and only ten people have come in and usually we’re busy all day. It’s really affecting business.

“When people come here where are they going to park? They can’t even get here to come into the shop.

“You come in to work long hours for nothing, I have lost eight months of business.”

Another High Street trader said: “Usually people park up and walk down the street, popping into shops or drive past and have a look on the way.

“On a weekend the street is usually really busy but now it is like a ghost town.

“I am lucky I take bookings so people call up in advance. It is the businesses that rely on footfall that have taken the biggest hit.”

Coun Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, said Droitwich residents saw the revamp as a ‘top priority’ as part of a public consultation exercise.

“This will be a fantastic boost to the High Street and a real plus for the local economy encouraging new shoppers to this end of town thereby helping the fantastic local businesses there to thrive,” he said.

“We are now delivering that vision along with our partners, Wychavon District Council and Severn Trent Water.

“We listened to businesses who were keen for us to retain vehicular access along the High Street in the new scheme and to shoppers who asked us to improve access for pedestrians and less mobile users.

“We have worked hard to maintain pedestrian access to the businesses during the work and reduced rate parking has been provided nearby to encourage people to continue to shop here while the work takes place.”

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