Most shops in Marlborough have reported a sizeable dip in their takings because of the roadworks that started in January and will take until next spring to complete.

The roadworks initially involved the replacement of gas mains in London Road but involved excavating the east end of George Lane as well.

The gas works have now moved to Kingsbury Street where homes are being connected to a new mains laid some years ago necessitating one-way traffic but, meanwhile, work has started in replacing the bridge over the River Kennet in Pewsey Road requiring closure of that road.

On Monday the bridge works were compounded by traffic lights in George Lane while underground telecom fibre optic cables, which run in the bridge’s concrete decking, were re-routed.

Shops in the town say they cannot sustain the loss of takings especially when recently increased parking charges have also discouraged people from shopping in Marlborough.

At peak periods traffic in the town comes to a standstill with queues back as far as Ogbourne St Andrew towards Swindon, past the start of the 40mph limit in Bath Road and beyond the Postern Hill picnic site on the Burbage Road.

Traders say they are beginning to feel the pinch.

The Top Bags shop, which sells a range of bags and suitcases, has also noticed a fall in takings since the roadworks started, said manager Cheryl Read.

“We are definitely affected,” said Mrs Read: “It took me an hour just to get out of the car park the other day.”

At the Kitchen Monger in Hilliers Yard, manageress Julie Chelchowski said: “The footfall in here has dropped noticeably since the roadworks started in January.

“We are beginning to wonder if the council wants any shops to stay open in Marlborough or even care if the jobs of local people are affected.”

Chris Birkett runs Ducklings Toy Shop in Hilliers Yard and said his first anniversary in business had been marked by a fall in takings of between 25 to 30 per cent.

“It has really hit the traders in the town hard,” he said. “Most traders say they are down by much the same.”

Andrew Glover who runs Lighting of Distinction in the High Street said: “We are about 30 per cent down on this time last year.

“People have phoned me up to say they are not coming in as arranged but have turned round and gone back home after seeing the traffic queues.”

Carrie Hadden runs Foxy Lady women’s and men’s hairdressing salon in the High Street and she said: “I was down £200 on Saturday on the men’s alone.

“They are not going to come back next week to have their hair cut because the traffic situation will be just the same.”

At Beauty Full Time cosmetics shop in High Street, senior sales assistant Natalie Guilford said: “It’s an absolute nightmare getting in or out of the town with the result that customers are staying away.

“The last couple of weeks have been very quiet in this shop.”