Kenilworth businesses call for road to be reopened after facing weeks of difficulties

Businesses in Kenilworth are calling for a road to be reopened after facing difficulties of the last few weeks.

Many shop owners along Station Road have been left frustrated for weeks at the current road closure implemented by Warwickshire County Council for social distancing.

As well as having the road closed the business owners say they have also been facing lorries blocking the road, leaving little room for people to get past.

Alan Mills, who owns House of Beauty with his wife Nicky, said: "From the House of Beauty, Pomeroys, Leaders and the Picnic Basket, we are all frustrated at having our businesses ruined because it’s stopping people walking properly along this road.

"Between us all at the end of Station Road, turning onto Warwick Road where the road is closed, our points have been made to the local council, Warwick District Council, and Warwickshire Council.

"The cones that were put down firstly were ugly and either the wind blew them over or people moved them, that’s about three weeks ago.

"Then they put large cones down along the curb running aside Pomeroys, which again looked ugly, these were supposed to stop lorries/vans/cars parking double width and where there was not enough room parked on the pavement outside House of Beauty and Pomeroys.

"The main reason they closed the road was for social distancing to help people walking around easier but when the vans/lorries are parked they are not ever leaving a metres width.

"You also have four or five bin lorries a day reversing down the road and the noise they make is frustrating.

"After much complaining the council have allowed the local council to put in fixed bollards along the curb running along Pomeroys, this will stop some vans/lorries, this was done on Tuesday.

"Most residents feel now if the road was opened up it would help the businesses, cars/people driving along to the end see House of Beauty, Pomeroys and Leaders creating people to look in, were all sure that at the moment the way it is its not helping us."

Nicky added: "The easiest solution is to open the road again. It will stop cars and lorries using the road as a car park.

"It's a safety hazard.

"You are getting all these huge lorries that appear from nowhere coming down here for their break.

"They are using it like a carpark.

"I know it was done for social distancing but people are sensible enough to know what to do now.

Liddy Pomeroy, who owns Pomeroys, also said that the road closure should be scrapped or moved.

She said: "It isn’t helping anyone at present.

"If they pedestrianised it properly and took the road closure further down towards the car park, we may have more of a chance.

"The local council have no idea how hard it is for my industry at present and they’ve just made my life even worse by sticking bollards in the middle of the pavement!

"Look at all the chain eateries at the top of town and then small independents get nothing, it’s an absolute joke and it’s also not going to stop the lorries coming up and down and parking in the road.

"People are going to moan because of access for mobility scooters, prams, the blind.

"Absolute waste of time, I’ve had enough and feel once again, let down by them."

A spokesperson for Warwickshire County Council said: "We are aware of the concerns raised by businesses at Station Road in Kenilworth about the current road closures, which aim to facilitate social distancing.

"To address the issue of large vehicles blocking the road, we will be installing bollards which will prevent these incidences of inconsiderate parking.

"The road space reallocation in our towns is an ongoing process, Warwickshire County Council will continue to listen carefully to residents and local businesses to amend schemes accordingly.

"These concerns will be fed in to this process of ongoing review for Kenilworth."

Kenilworth Town Council and Warwick District Council have also been approached for a comment.