By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Traders are calling on highways bosses to reconsider a road closure which will block one of the main entrances to a Cotswold town for several weeks amid fears it will hurt their trade during the run-up to Christmas.
Silver Street in Tetbury is expected to close from today (October 26) from Gumstool Hill to the Green and may not reopen until November 27 according to local parish and town councils.
Gloucestershire County Council is closing the road, which is the main route into town from Malmesbury, to allow repairs to go ahead at a house on the street.
The closure means motorists face a 50-mile official diversion route and traders say the closure comes at the worst time possible for them as they gear up for the Christmas period.
Jackie Stead, manager at French Grey, the independently owned homeware and gifts store in Long Street, said the closure seems like “madness”.
She believes it’s “very shortsighted” of the council to close the road at this time of the year.
“It’s very concerning considering this is our lead up to Christmas,” she said.
“This is what we traders look forward to potentially as a bumper time to carry us through our quieter months.”
She said French Grey expanded into the empty premises next door last year which was hugely popular.
“It was very well received in the town because we dedicated it to all our Christmas stock,” she said. “It was like a Christmas shop.
“People said ‘wow this is fantastic, it lit up the town’.
“This year we are going bigger and better and then actually we discover, can people get to us from that part of the country?”
She said Tetbury’s retailers collectively provide a strong small independent shopping experience in the town.
“Tetbury has a lovely range of cafes, hotels and shops. It’s really a destination where you spend quite a day here.”
“And we’re not talking just about a section of the high street being closed and awkward to get to. We are talking about an entrance to the town.”
She said they “hope and pray” the closure is postponed or altered to only a single lane closure of the road with temporary traffic lights.
Laura Hall-Wilson, the Conservative councillor who represents Tetbury with Upton at Cotswold District Council is among those calling on Gloucestershire Highways to reconsider.
“Since news of the road closure on Silver Street broke I have been chasing highways to reconsider, postpone and scale back the closure to ensure as little disruption as possible to Christmas trading in the town, residents on Silver Street and along the diversion route and patients at Tetbury Hospital.
“It has taken weeks to get a response and even then legitimate concerns have been ignored.
“The Liberal Democrats at Shire Hall have failed to see the complete contradiction in spending £7,500 of public money on a town centres initiative (which identified local authority support for Christmas initiatives to be a key element for year round success) and the closure of this significant route into the town from Wiltshire at this time of year, and for this long.
“We are still hoping for a last minute intervention to implement single lane, light controlled traffic.
“I will always act in the best interest of the wider town of Tetbury, its residents and businesses and stand up for them.
“We have had a very disappointing response from our MP who has only parroted the lines and reiterated the situation from Gloucestershire County Council which we already know and has not advocated for the town in any way.”
Cllr Mark Harris (LD, Cirencester North with Ermin), cabinet member for highways at Shire Hall, said they understand the concerns raised by residents, businesses and other organisations in Tetbury about the impact this closure could have.
“We have been working closely with the Mayor of Tetbury, residents, businesses and the Tetbury Hospital to minimise disruption where it is possible.
“The closure is required to allow private building works and scaffolding on properties to be carried out safely.
“Given the width of Silver Street and the space needed to provide a safe working area, there would not currently be enough room for vehicles to pass safely while the work takes place.
“During previous work at this location, when the road remained open, a lorry collided with the scaffolding, causing damage to the property and a neighbouring property.
“The road will therefore close as planned on Monday to allow the site and scaffolding to be set up safely. We are arranging a site meeting early next week to look again at whether the working area can be reduced sufficiently to allow the road to reopen under temporary traffic lights for some of the remaining work.
“Safety has to be our priority, but we recognise the disruption this closure could cause and will continue to work with the contractor to see whether its impact can be reduced.”
South Cotswolds MP Roz Savage said Silver Street is a key route into Tetbury and she understands why a closure in the run-up to Christmas has worried local businesses, residents and Tetbury Hospital.
“Many constituents have written to me about it, and I’ve passed their concerns on to the County Council,” the Liberal Democrat said.
“Thanks to pressure from residents, businesses and the Town Council, some changes have already been made.
“The works will now run seven days a week and finish on November 18, more than a week earlier than planned. There will also be pedestrian access for the Remembrance parades and extra signs for hospital access. I welcome the Council looking again at the remaining concerns, including whether temporary traffic lights could be used safely.
“I’m disappointed that a local councillor feels I haven’t advocated for Tetbury. Just this year I tabled an Early Day Motion celebrating the Tetbury Area Youth and Community Trust, raised how the
Government’s business rates changes are affecting Tetbury’s pubs, and spoke up for Tetbury Goods Shed and Greening Tetbury in Parliament.
“I’ll be back in the town on Remembrance Sunday and again on November 27, and I’m always happy to work with anyone, from any party, who wants the best for Tetbury.”