BUSINESSES in one of Oswestry’s busiest roads are preparing for a period of inconvenience.

Leg Street and Beatrice Street in Oswestry are set to close for three weeks from Monday, June 17 for work to be conducted by SP Energy Networks between the junction of Leg Street to Madog Place.

The closure means delivery vans will be unable to access shops using the usual loading bays, so alternative plans will have to be put in place.

Despite accepting that the work must be completed, business owners are aware of the problems it may cause.

Louise Idoux of Oswestry Herbarium is hoping that, as previously, the work is finished before the planned date.

She said: “It is a bit frustrating, but work does need to be done. They usually tend to finish the work a bit earlier than they expect to, which is nice.

“It is very annoying though. When they did it last time which was only a year or two ago, they had the road closed for something similar and it was difficult.

“Of course, you have no traffic coming through and it tends to make deliveries a bit of an issue.

“There’s a loading bay just outside, so that’s where customers will sometimes nip in from, but it’s mainly the delivery guys who will struggle.

“My deliveries aren’t exactly massive so they should be able to carry them in from around the corner, but other places it might be more difficult for.

“It does affect business; I can’t say it doesn’t.”

The business-owner said she does expect footfall to take a hit, but admits the main issue will be the temporary lack of passing trade which the shop usually attracts from the traffic.

She added: “Footfall takes a little bit of a hit, but it’s mainly due to passing traffic.

“A lot of my customers will see adverts on my blackboards at the front of the shop, of course that won’t happen if they’re not driving through.

“The advertising aspect will be gone, as will spontaneous stopping from people passing on the bus or in the car.

“In the 15 years I have been here though, the road has been closed quite a few times, but you just have to get on with it.”

“Three weeks isn’t as bad as it could be; thankfully it isn’t six or eight weeks.

“It’s not a huge issue, but it’s just irritating.”

Richard Mattey of Another Life furniture shop, said: “It’s got to be done, hasn’t it?

“It’s just one of those things. Deliveries will just have to be carried from the market or another point nearby instead.

“We’ll all just have to cope with that for the time being.

“As long as the pedestrian access is open, I shouldn’t see it being such a problem.”

SP Energy Networks have been approached for comment.

Shropshire Council advised anyone wishing for details about the closure to visit www.roadworks.org