Fears for trade with 16-week roadworks (From Keighley News)

Fears for trade with 16-week roadworks

11:41am Thursday 17th April 2008

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businesses are worried that a 16-week period of roadworks will ruin a summer of takings in Silsden.

Bradford Council has said that work will take place on King's Arms Bridge, Pickard Bridge and Road End Culvert from July 28 until the middle of November.

Business owners are concerned that delays on the already congested Silsden main road will result in a loss of passing trade.

Nadine Errington, owner of Nadine's, on Kirkgate, said she expected the disruption to be "horrendous". She said: "If it is anything like when they put the cable wires in, it will certainly affect the businesses here.

"Sixteen weeks is a long time, and that road is more or less the main road through Silsden, it will affect us big time.

"If the work needs to be done, then it needs to be done but businesses suffer enough in little towns like this, which are just getting quieter and quieter."

Elizabetta Santabarbara, co-owner of Stefano's Italian restaurant, in Kirkgate, was also worried about the impact of the roadworks.

She said: "We have people coming to eat here from Lancashire, Addingham, Keighley and Skipton, so if they are trying to get in, they are going to have problems.

"We mainly take bookings so if people arrive late, that will create a backlog of people waiting, it could be a nightmare."

Bradford Council plans to close the bridge next to the Co-op entrance for two weeks while strengthening takes place and part of Pickard Bridge will allow a single lane of traffic flow to remain. Road End Culvert, which runs from Kirkgate junction to Wesley Place, will be entirely replaced and the car park will be closed for certain periods during the construction.

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