Years of disruptive roadworks in Crowthorne has made things ‘extremely hard’ for businesses, a trader has said.

Roadworks on the High Street have taken place over the last three years with approximately 60 sets of temporary traffic lights implemented in this time, according to Sara, owner of Sweet Tiger.

She recently was paid a visit from the new MP for Bracknell, Peter Swallow, to discuss the impact roadworks are having on the high street.

Sara told the News: “It has a huge impact on businesses, especially small businesses like mine.

We rely on people to walk past and come in based on impulse. It’s not really like you make an appointment at the hairdressers.”

She recalled a time that ‘they blocked off the entrance to the shop on a Saturday morning’, a prime time for customers.

Sara was then told by Bracknell Forest Highways that they were not meant to be there, and she could have told them to leave.

She said that although ‘roadworks do need to be done, we just need them to be better coordinated,’ adding that she didn’t think that Bracknell highways had a ‘firm grip’ on the situation.

Paul Mitchell, who runs Louie’s café, said that there is ‘barely a week that has gone by without people thinking that the highstreet is closed’.

This has made things ‘extremely hard’ on his business, which has operated for the last nine years.

He said that he has had to let go of staff as it is ‘very difficult to balance the books’.

While roadworks have been taking place on and off for the last three years, Paul said that things worsened in December 2023. This involved the closure of the carpark outside of his café – the only free one in Crowthorne – reducing the number of his customers.

He added that social media is fuelling lots of people to think that the high street is closed all together.

Sharing his visit to Sara’s store on Facebook, MP for Bracknell Peter Swallow wrote: “Shops like Sweet Tiger are so important to keeping the high street alive, so please support them and shop local.”

Paul said that he wanted Mr Swallow to improve things for struggling businesses, having spoken to him before the election.

He said: “If there’s a will there, they have to, no one wants to lose it [the high street].”

Bracknell Forest Highways have been approached for comment.