Traders in Marlborough concerned at the loss of business resulting from months of roadworks in the town and which are likely to continue until the end of February have gained the support of MP Claire Perry who is asking Wiltshire Council if anything can be done to get them finished sooner.

She was unable to get to the retail forum meeting on Tuesday last week because it was the last day of Parliament before the summer recess but she said: “I have been getting complaints about the traffic problems and I have suffered from them myself.

“It is a problem with shops saying their takings are down by 25 per cent a week.”

She said she supported the idea of opening up the Wait-rose High Street entrance to two-way traffic and having lights at the end of George Lane allowing traffic to emerge on to Salisbury Road.

Mrs Perry said: “I am calling for joined-up thinking in situations like this where businesses are suffering.”

The traders have asked Wiltshire Council to look at options to ease the traffic-flow system in Marlborough including allowing traffic to emerge from the Waitrose car park on to High Street instead of having to join queues in George Lane.

The latest roadworks causing tailbacks at peak times are in Pewsey Road when the bridge over the River Kennet is being rebuilt.

Toy shop owner Chris Birkett asked Wiltshire council’s Marlborough Area Board why the closure of Pewsey Road had to include the Christmas period.

David Bullock, head of the council’s service traffic and network management, said its streetworks co-ordinator had tried to ensure the impact of works was kept to a minimum.