STEPS are being made to try to limit the damage being caused to shops in Tenbury as a result of work to improve the town centre.

There will be changes made to the working hours to limit inconvenience in the mornings and a publicity campaign will be launched to let people know that the town in open for business.

The moves come after many traders in the town reported a fall in business since the work in the vicinity of the Round Market and Bowkett's Supermarket started in the middle of last month.

The work is being undertaken by contractors working for Worcestershire County Council and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Ken Pollock, who represents Tenbury on Worcestershire County Council, said that good progress is being made but that there have been problems.

“Most significant is the reported drop in trade in the town and that is highly regrettable, the more so if it is based on ill-founded rumours of the difficulties of access and parking,” he said.

“It is my intention to assure all who work and shop in Tenbury that there is no reason not to continue as normal. Parking is not reduced, waiting times at the lights are minimal when they are deployed and all retailers are keen to see the level of trade return to normal for the season.

“In response to comments and complaints about disruption and noise, the basic work period has been altered from a day time operation and a night time shift, to one of noon to midnight for the two work crews.

“In this way, there will be no activity during the morning, helping trade at that time and no activity after midnight, ensuring no noisy disruption for residents of Market Street.

“The county council will be taking advertisements in the local press to seek to re-assure people that Tenbury is open for business as usual."

He said that there had also been ‘teething problems’ especially relating to poor signage, faulty traffic lights and access to a triangular parking area outside Bowkett's.

“There have also been criticisms about communication, which is regrettable, given the effort that has been made to let people know what is going on,” added Cllr Pollock.

“To the extent that anyone is unclear about the plans and necessary restrictions, I am very sorry. We hope to make sure that further difficulties do not occur.”

People in the town with questions or queries during the day can seek out Terry Godwin of Ringway around the works or in No 4 Market Street, where they can see detail plans of the whole works.

A further meeting to discuss progress will be held at the end of next week.