Littleborough roadworks badly affecting local businesses

Hare Hill Road is currently one way system and businesses say that this is affecting custom

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Roadworks currently taking place in Littleborough are badly affecting trade say local businesses.

Hare Hill Road is currently one way system and businesses say that this is affecting custom.

Andy McKay, owner of Littleborough Delicatessen on Hare Hill Road said: “It is having a big affect on business. It is a lot quieter now than it usually is. There is nowhere for people to park because of the roadwork’s and there is nowhere for people to just pull over and call in.”

Andy has found that the work is having an effect throughout the whole of the week and not just at one specific time. He added: “It is just quiet all of the time .”

The roadworks are shceduled to take eight weeks to complete but Andy thinks they will take longer. He said: “They have been here for about five weeks now and they have only done one side of the road. They still have another side to do and speed bumps to put in, so if you ask me it looks like its going to take longer than eight weeks”

Lee Rigg, owner of L D Rigg Butchers on Hare Hill Road, said: “It is having a constant effect on business. There is just a complete lack of custom at the minute and we are seeing a loss of up to £800 a week.”

Lee has also seen trade down throughout the whole week. He added: “It is slow all week but we are seeing issues on a Saturday as well because of the roadworks on Wardle Road.”

Changes being made to the road include bringing in speed humps, a new crossing, a 20mph speed limit at the bottom of the road and blue badge spaces being marked outside of the pharmacy on Victoria Street.

Neela Jackson, Manager of The Star Tree Studio on Victoria Street, said: “I think it is hard for people to park at the minute because there doesn’t seem to be anywhere for people to stop. We have had some people turn up late for classes they have booked on because of traffic surrounding the roadworks and people have said it was hard to park. It has been a bit quieter than usual with our drop in customers but I can’t say if that is directly down to the roadworks or not.”

Businesses located on Church Street in Littleborough seem to be unaffected by the roadworks with staff at Border Rose Tattoo studio saying: “No it hasn’t affected us. We are further down the road though so that might be why.”

It is understood that as work has gone in on the area, contractors have carried out the following:

• Maintaining pedestrian access past the works at all times. 
• Liaising with adjacent businesses as the works have progressed. 
• Paving the footway in short sections to minimise disruption to shops as much as practically possible. 
• Accommodating delivery vehicles within the working area when required. 
• Amended traffic management to allow parking as much as possible once an area of the footway had been completed. 

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council said: “There are a series of works being undertaken in the area. The current footway improvement works are programmed to be completed in Hare Hill Road by Friday 4 April 2014.

“Following this, there will be a further week of work to construct the road hump adjacent to the junction of Hare Hill Road with Sale Street; and the junction plateau at the junction of Hare Hill Road with Victoria Street. These works will also require the closure of Hare Hill Road to traffic on two Sundays (30 March and 6 April 2014) to construct the humps. A diversion route will be in place on these dates and clearly signed for road users. Pedestrian access will be maintained past the works at all times.

“New road markings will then be applied and the current programme of works is due for completion in its entirety on Thursday 17 April, however this date is dependent on favourable weather conditions to allow the works to progress.

“It should also be noted that the existing zebra crossing on Church Street, adjacent to Hare Hill Road, is to be converted to a Pelican Crossing. Preparatory works for this will be ongoing from Monday 7 April to Friday 11 April.”