Keynsham traders have hit out at "shocking" works to improve two key streets.
Currently the High Street is closed off to cars as work continues to widen pavements, place better signage, a cycle lane and create new bus stops. And workers on Temple Street are also unhappy as footfall has dropped.
The project by Bath and North East Somerset Council began on June 1, 2021 and is funded by the West of England Combined Authority, reports Somerset Live.
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Work to improve the High Street was expected to take eight months but the journey hasn't been all plain sailing. There have been "unforeseen" issues with the pavement depth on the east side of the street which meant draining couldn't be placed there causing some delays. Final finishing and road surfacing works are now expected to be completed in early March.
BANES councillor Richard Samuel said his team had been able to "mitigate" delays caused by "significant problems". The council also want to improve Temple Street, with Cllr Samuel saying the plans would build the streets "identity as an independent part of Keynsham’s High Street while promoting sustainable economic and cultural growth and improving quality of life in the town centre".
The improvements to Temple Street are part of the council's £3.6m invested into the rejuvenation of Keynsham's High Street.
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The proposed plans see parking spaces lost and street furniture such as planters and trees placed along the road. Yet traders along the High Street and Temple Street have said they've noticed a fall in trade because of the works going on and others have big concerns about the proposed later works.
Chris Oliver, 55, of DIY & Home - Keynsham Hardware, said the changes to Temple Street would affect his trade "horrendously" as he does reply on people stopping directly outside the shop in one of the parking spaces and popping in for items.
He said: "I said to Banes please don't take our parking - don't do this to us. I feel there has been a lack of discussion on this. I don't feel like they have researched this at all. They want to put some outdoor seating outside some places, put in planters and trees - well I don't really want my shop front covered by trees, I want people to be able to see in.
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"If they take this parking off me, it will destroy this business. Just the other day a lady pulled over to buy an incinerating bin she had seen in the window as she passed - I'll lose out on that sort of trade and my elderly customers park directly outside and walk-in.
"This is a real big issue for me - for three days I took a short survey of my own customers and one in three had pulled up after driving past.
"I don't think they realise what they are doing."
Mr Oliver, who has been running the shop for ten years, also said that the length of time the work on the High Street had taken was too long.
He said: "It's been almost a year which is along time for the work which at the moment just seems to have widened a few pavements."
Ian Mills, 74, director of Baby and Co on Temple Street said the planners had "got the wrong end of the stick" with the proposed design for the street, and said looking at the "mess" of the high street is ominous for Temple Street traders as to what they have got to come.
He added that work on the High Street "is an enormous waste of money" and "everyone can see the disruption to trade".
In a letter, sent to the council about Temple Street plans, Mr Mills said: "We have some 40 years experience retailing in Keynsham and believe we have seen just about everything... and now BANES with Keynsham High Street 'redesign' and firmly believe the proposal as it stands is totally over the top.
"These works will causes enormous disruption to trade, when altering pavements I can see the contractors requesting Temple Street is closed for safety reasons, you only have to look at the current state of the High Street to see what we would face, and I see parking suspended - I would be very worried how our delivery and collection vehicles will access.
"Whilst the planters look nice, there are far too many proposed and they will be subject to vandalism, as can be seen by the one outside the civic centre, could the trees not be planted directly into the ground. The planters, if close to the pavement would make it difficult for passengers to alight from cars and inhibit loading of goods into the back of cars.
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"Currently there are some 20 roadside parking places in our part of Temple Street, this is a requirement for people wishing to park close to and pop into shops, to say that street parking dominates the street is the opposite to what retailers want. Your proposals leaves four parking places on the Riverside section of the road.
"The proposed pedestrian crossing removes several parking places. I believe a survey is required to check the number of people crossing at this pint to establish potential usage."
The letter goes on to discuss the problems caused by a narrowing of the road. It continues: "Reducing Temple Street width to 5.5 m will cause congestion as with this width a bus/HGV and car would not be able to pass each other and will cause chaos whilst HGV's are delivering. I would also propose moving the loading bay position to outside the Town Council offices so it is much closer to the shops.
"There is far too much spill out seating that in my opinion is not required for Temple Street footfall which has traditionally had specialist shops where shoppers 'shop and go'. They do not hang around as though they are in a city centre, they get on with the day.
"I note you are proposing accessible entrances which is great but don't forget to factor in how steel security shutters can operate to the level ground."
Kevin Gregory, 61, of an employee of Longwell Records said he "quite liked the idea" of improving Temple Street, but said the works on the High Street had "been very long winded" and "seemed to be going on forever" which was a concern.
He said: "I think there was less footfall initially but we don't really get much passing trade as it is - our customers come to us."
Mr Gregory added that he thought there were enough car parks around for his customers.
Toni Barwood, owner of Locks of Love by Toni, a hairdressers which opened on Temple Street last September said she had noticed that the High Street works had affected her customers.
She said: "It's affected us because the traffic lights and amount of traffic have been making our customers late for appointments. It's a pain, the traffic."
James Cartridge, 44, owner of 73 Degrees, the bike shop on Temple Street, said he was concerned a lot of money had been spent.
He said: "I'm concerned its wasting a lot of money, causing chaos as it goes. I don't see what improvements are going to be made at this point and I'm not sure it is money well spent.
"From my point of view I'm not sure they've gone far enough, I think they should have pedestrianised the entire High Street and had alfresco dining, made it very friendly for cyclists to be able to commute."
Mr Cartridge said he felt at the moment, the closure of the High Street, one way system and temporary traffic lights have "put people off" coming to Keynsham.
Concerning Temple Street's improvement work Mr Cartridge said he "wasn't sure he saw the point" of some of the plans and was disappointed that some empty office space wouldn't be made into retail space.
Angelo Nicastro, 54, of Laviano's Italian restaurant, said he wasn't sure why the work was necessary but that his business had escaped lightly from the disruption so far.
He said: "It hasn't really affected us but I'm when they start doing work this end it will.
"I know other traders are complaining about traffic already and about how long the works are going on for. I don't actually understand why they had to do any of the work."
On Temple Street works, Mr Nicastro said: "The street will lose quite a few parking spaces which could be a problem for disabled customers."
The Italian restaurant has been on Temple Street for five years, 9 months and Mr Nicastro said he thought his restaurant was in a different position to other shops as his customers come out to specifically go to his restaurant.
Traders directly on Keynsham High Street said the noise and disturbance caused by the work had a very been difficult to manage.
Sue Baxter, 62, of Polkadot, said the works were "horrendous" and said it had been "disappointing" to see the dip in footfall.
She said: "They have caused chaos on the High Street, there has been a lack of footfall, things have been quieter which is disappointing."
Pam Garrie, 56, of Scrumptious Sweets said they'd suffered greatly due to having temporary traffic lights outside the shop.
She said: "The feedback from customers is really negative.
"Everything part of the works are shocking - the time scale and the quality.
"The people of Keynsham are fed up to the back teeth from it all - the dirt and dust has been a problem as well to keep on top of."
She also noticed a "pinch point" where the buses struggled to make the left hand bend from Charlton Road onto the High Street and that she can see cars having to stop to let buses pass calling it "poor design".
She said the traffic management system had been an "absolute disgrace".
What did the council say?
Councillor Richard Samuel, deputy Leader and cabinet member for economic development and resources, said: “Our contractors encountered a number of significant issues throughout the works which could have set the schedule back by months, however we have successfully mitigated the impact of these.
"I’m really pleased to report the final phases of work are due to be completed in the next couple of weeks, followed by landscaping, finishing works, and resurfacing.
"Delays are frustrating but we do update people regularly on changes to the timescales and I want to thank people for their patience.
"As was the case before the works began, no vehicles are permitted to turn right into the high street at the Charlton Road junction.”
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