A FRUSTRATED independent business has warned a town centre area is “dying” due to repeated bouts of roadworks.

Traffic “chaos” returned to Bargates in Christchurch this week as Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN) launched “essential” work to repair a fault.

Temporary lights were put up, much to the frustration of businesses, including Castles Home Hardware, who have experienced a year of utility-firm related issues.

Operations manager Margaret Coetzee said all of the traders went home on Monday with no sign of any roadworks.

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When they returned the following morning a large generator was in the middle of road and temporary traffic lights.

Ms Coetzee said she phoned SSEN to find out what was going on. She said she was told it was planned work, which would be completed on Tuesday.

However, traffic lights remained on Wednesday with a large hole in the road still waiting to be filled in.

The lights were still in place on Thursday morning.

“It’s ridiculous,” Ms Coetzee said. “It was a year since Wessex Water did the temporary works to avoid disruption over Christmas but it has just been one thing after another.

“People aren’t going to keep sitting in a 20-minute queue of traffic to get down the road to pop into our shop or one of the other businesses along here.

“Bargates is dying because of this sort of thing. People aren’t going to go to Saxon Square and walk up through the underpass or park in Waitrose because they have to pay.

“It is just one chaotic event after another.

“I have no doubt they will finish this work then in a matter of weeks someone else will come along and dig up another part of the road.”

She said the impact on the range of independent businesses was “huge”.

“People will just stop coming to this part of town,” she added. “People won’t be able to keep running their businesses due to the dramatic drop in footfall and sales from all the roadworks.”

Christchurch Town ward councillor Mike Cox said the roadworks situation in Bargate had been “appalling” for businesses.

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“They need to get the work done as quickly as possible,” Cllr Cox said.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said utility companies needed to work together to do work at the same time where possible to minimise disruption.

A SSEN spokesperson said: “SSEN has been carrying out essential works to repair a fault on its underground network in Bargates, Christchurch.

“As of Tuesday evening, this fault has been fully repaired and works will now be carried out to reinstate the site and replace the existing slabs.

“SSEN would like to thank road users for their patience while these works have been taking place.”

The spokesperson said the work needed to be carried out immediately and it was unplanned, contrary to what Ms Coetzee said she was told.

They could not confirm when the temporary traffic lights would be removed other than stating it will be “as soon as possible”.