A group of businesspeople in Tenby are up in arms over chaos caused by roadworks outside their premises.

Seven weeks ago, St. George’s Street and Church Street were closed to traffic to enable electricity replacement and carriageway reconstruction work.

The scheme is part of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planned maintenance programme and was expected to have been completed by the middle of February, before the Welsh schools half-term, but delays have occurred and the work is still continuing.

“We have had one of our worst ever half-term holidays,” said Yvonne Uka, of The Lounge 2.

“Our takings were down 50 per cent as customers, even our regulars, think we are not open because of all the roadworks, barriers and heavy machinery in front of the café.

“Half-term starts everything off for the season, yet this year business has been dreadful.

“The council initially forgot to put signs up saying the businesses were open and the noise and the dust has been horrendous. We are a café and the workmen have been cutting and grinding right outside our door. Our rubbish hasn’t been collected because the refuse lorry couldn’t get access, so it got left, and yet we are paying for that service. There’s just been no consideration for us. It is getting harder and harder every year to run a business, without these complications.”

Keith May, of The Three Mariners, said that the roadworks had even resulted in him closing the pub.

“It’s been a waste of time being open some days because people just cannot get to us.”

“The Six Nations is our bread and butter and yet this year, it’s been one of the quietest ever,” added his daughter Lydia.

Continued Yvonne: “I have spoken to the county council and have been told that if the work is not complete by Easter, then the road will be opened and the work will re-start again afterwards, but is that the English or Welsh schools holidays, we do not know. And if the work isn’t finished, that means that the work is then heading towards the May Bank Holiday.

“What we need is Tenby Town Council to look at the situation and try and help us to overcome this,” said Frank Booth, of Serendipity Games Centre, “but we have not heard from any councillor. Not one word. We are very concerned and want their help in pressing the county council to get this work finished.”

The businesspeople were also concerned at the traffic chaos being caused.

“Deliveries cannot get to us so when they do come, the vehicles are blocking the entrance to Church Street or have to park in Tudor Square which is already congested with the workmen’s lorries,” added Yvonne.

“We were told this work was being done at the quietest time of the year, but the quietest time for who? We certainly were not consulted.”

The businesspeople were also concerned that machinery was being left at the location over the weekends - resulting in people climbing all over it, barriers were being knocked over and with the weather turning, any snow would hold the work up further.

“This just isn’t good for Tenby,” added Keith.

When contacted by the Observer about the work, a spokeswoman for Western Power Distribution said: “We have been liaising and working jointly with Pembrokeshire County Council in order to minimise disruption to businesses in St. George’s Street and Church Street, Tenby, while carrying out repair work to the underground electricity services.

“We needed to renew and upgrade all the electricity services there due to the age and condition of the cables. We fully consulted with the local businesses in order to minimise disruption and to cause as little inconvenience as possible. We have replaced and upgraded all of the high voltage and low voltage underground electricity cables, which will provide security of supply in the future. Our work there is now fully completed.”

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “We apologise for any inconvenience, but the replacing of the brick paving which comprises the road surface is taking longer than anticipated because of unforeseen difficult ground conditions.

“Allowing for a week’s interruption when work will be suspended during the Easter holiday, the scheme should be finished by mid-April.”