Store work has cut us off from trade

Monday, 11 June 2012

traders say their businesses have been hit by building works for a multimillion-pound development.

Part of Anglesea Road, Woolwich, has been closed to traffic for nearly three months due to roadworks needed for a new Tesco Extra supermarket and 1,000 homes.

The 15 businesses affected include a watch repairer, a phone shop, launderette and money transfer shop.

Zafar Iqbal, from Halal Fried Chicken in the road, told The Mercury: “All of the 15 shops are suffering a loss of trade during the closure of the road.

“We were originally told by the contractors that the road would reopen on April 22 but this has not happened.”

Mr Iqbal said the traders had not been able to get any firm answers about what was going on from the contractors or any help from Greenwich council.

Tony Fletcher, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: “We are not sure where the particular date came from for the end of the work as we did expect it to be a long job.

“We are doing major work on the road. We are replacing gulleys and drains as there is a big sewer underneath.

“We are also replacing the kerbs and footpaths and creating a new pedestrian island.

“It is going to be a much nicer road to walk on after the work.

“We are obviously sorry for any inconvenience caused but it is a major regeneration project, which will increase the footfall up and down the road in the future.

“We currently have 700 workers on site who are using the local shops and businesses.”

Mr Fletcher predicted the work could take another five to six weeks. The Woolwich Central development is due to open in November.

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