DELAYED roadworks on Mead Way have caused havoc for business owners on a nearby industrial estate.

The £4 million improvements to one of Swindon’s busiest roads started in March but have taken much longer than the three months originally expected due to pipe problems and pandemic-related issues.

These setbacks had a knock-on effect on Swindon Electrical Supplies and neighbouring companies on Westmead Industrial Estate.

Though access to the estate has been retained throughout, firm founder Andy Young said the road works pushed customers away from the area.

He said: “It’s absolutely diabolical, I’ve had enough of the excuses, it’s a joke. Despite the pandemic, other roadworks around town haven’t overrun this much. Was there no penalty clause for the contractors who have taken so much longer than planned?

“The estate gets a quarter of its usual traffic because although there’s access, there’s no longer a through road from one part of Swindon to the other.

“So people who stopped off to collect or buy something on their way to or from work don’t come past any more.

“Customers we relied on went to other wholesalers and are likely to stay with them, though a few loyal ones have remained with us.

“This and the pandemic was a double blow, with sales down 70 per cent and the other 30 being really tough and not enough to pay rent.

“Oddly enough, without the government’s Covid grants, the roadworks would have killed us off entirely.

“Businesses on the estate like ours who have a trade counter rely on people coming in to discuss and make sales, so they’ve suffered too.

“The council has been no help, they just refer us to the newsletter, there’s been no communication and no-one we can speak to.”

The roadworks are expected to finally finish in June - 15 months after they first started.

During initial excavations, utility pipes under the road were found to be not as expected, and the disruption to the supply chain and utility worker availability caused by Covid-19 hitting the UK made solving that issue more difficult.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “We sympathise with Mr. Young and all of the businesses that have been affected by the Mead Way scheme.

“The Covid-19 pandemic caused issues for our contractor and utility companies, meaning we have been unable to deliver the scheme within the original timeframe.

“However at the end of last month, the section of road from Great Western Way to the Westmead Industrial Estate reopened to all traffic marking the end of the first phase of work.

“Access to Westmead Industrial Estate has been permitted throughout the entire scheme. We are now working to get the whole road back open over the coming months.

“The government is providing a range of support for businesses and organisations which have been affected by coronavirus restrictions. You can find out more at www.swindon.gov.uk/covidbusiness

“Residents and businesses can stay updated with the scheme by signing up to the monthly Mead Way newsletter at www.swindon.gov.uk/newsletter”