“THIS is a step too far and will put people off coming to Wimborne.”

That’s one trader’s views of the four-month improvement works that started in the Square on Monday.

Wimborne Interiors owner Vicky Spooner, who will see the paved area outside her store double under the £410,000 project, said: “The whole scheme is a non-starter.

“People have lost parking, apart from anything else. The council say it will ‘hopefully benefit’ the businesses. Will they put it back if it doesn’t?

“This is just another disruption we don’t need.”

She and neighbouring businesses have lost their designated loading bays during the works, which will create a performance space and room for al-fresco dining.

Mrs Spooner, 49, said: “I’m very sceptical about who is going to be looking after this area. We don’t have a café culture here: it’s not something we do as a nation.

“We’ve been told we’ll always have door access during the work, but windows are an as important part of our business.

“I think it’s all a step too far and will put people off coming to Wimborne.”

Site agent Steve Randall, from Dorset Highways, heads up the team of eight who were breaking up the Square’s central reservation, removing signposts and creating a bus shelter in West Borough yesterday.

Mr Randall said: “We’re digging out the island. Once we’ve excavated that we will tarmac it over and bring the old kerb line out to create this larger paved events area.”

East Borough will close tomorrow until February 5, and Mill Lane will shut from January 30 to February 12.

The enhancements are being funded by Dorset County Council, East Dorset District and Wimborne Town Council and are due to finish by the end of May.

East Dorset District Council Leader Councillor Spencer Flower said the scheme attracted strong support in a public consultation.

“It will inject new life into the centre of Wimborne by transforming the centre of the town into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly place to be,” he said.