Concerns roadworks will impact town's summer season

Business owners are calling for a halt to works to pedestrianise a road outside their shops ahead of the summer.

Some people fear the works in Terminus Road, in Eastbourne, will impact trade as the town enters the busiest time of year.

Other traders said the scheme, which began in February, should continue and be completed as quickly as possible.

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) said delaying the project would be expensive and delay the current completion date which is December this year.

The works are being paid for by a £19.8m grant from the government's Levelling Up Fund and are expected to be complete by December.

The government extended the deadline for funding to be spent by local authorities to the end of March next year, which some traders said gave time to delay the works over summer.

"Most of the traders here do believe that the summer is their peak, especially the restaurants," Paul Klein, owner of Eastbourne Antique Centre, said.

"I think the roadworks would impact them. For me, there would probably be less impact.

"There's a further extension until March, so it would make sense to pause the works for the summer and continue again in September to finish it off."

Ebony McNeill, owner of Drop of the Ocean gift shop, said her business needed the summer trade.

"The summer months are the most important for us," she said.

"Last summer was brilliant. Winter was completely dead down here, which is doable if we can have the summer months.

"The concern is that this year we won't get that and will have to do a winter. It's going to be so tough."

Obi Orah, owner of Proudly African store, called for the works to be done "swiftly".

"Delaying the roadworks means we will still be here doing it all over again in March next year," he said.

The finished pedestrianised area will have al fresco dining, new paving, street furniture, newly-planted trees and flowers, according to the council.

ESCC said it appreciated the disruption the works were causing and was aware of concerns raised by traders.

A spokesperson said: "Our contractors are doing everything they can to minimise the disruption as much as possible and ensure access to businesses is maintained throughout.

"While we understand the concerns - pausing the project until September would incur significant costs and delay the final completion date of the scheme.

"The works are expected to be completed on schedule in December."

The spokesperson added that one lane would be reopened on Grand Parade, with temporary traffic lights, in an effort to get traffic on the move around the area.

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