More businesses on nearby Mill Street in Oakham says they have been losing trade since July as the closure means drivers and those on foot are not passing their doors.
Residents say it's causing more people to drive into town rather than walk and causing gridlock. Debbie Oakes, who runs Snapdragon, says it's not just shops like hers, others run appointments are also affected.
‘Bizarrely I was speaking to Amy in the week and she also relies on passing trade. She has drop in so he doesn't have a single drop in and she hasn't had any new clients make appointments 'cause they just don't see us anymore. The diversion is ridiculous and the traffic jams are horrendous as everyone gets so frustrated they just want to go home’.
Connie Taylor moved her ceramics shop to Mill Street and also lives on the other side of the crossing. ‘Even coming into work I have to walk the pedestrian diversion. It takes me much longer, which you know, I can handle, but I feel because everybody is now entering town from the other side, unless they have any business close to the library, they will not come past Mill Street and they will not walk along Mill Street’.
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