Road works fury

The works, carried out for Southern Water, were in the High Street last week. The works were taken off the High Street and moved back to Saltings Way on Friday, which is off the High Street, and are expected to last 10 weeks.

Sue Barrow, from the Village Barbers, said trade had been down between 30 and 40 per cent since Monday when the road works had been in front of the shops in the High Street.

She added: "We had bollards all over the road. We had traffic lights. People could not come up here and park."

Dr Alan Robinson, who runs the pharmacy and stores, added: "The turnover has gone down by a third without a doubt."

He said he expected trade to return to normal now the roadworks had moved off the High Street.

A spokesman for Southern Water said the work affecting the High Street will be finished by the end of this week.

The work will continue in Saltings Way for several weeks and is to build a new sewer, which will prevent flooding in the area and accommodate new houses.

She added that the work is being carried out in consultation with the Highways Agency and residents in Saltings Way were contacted before it started.