BUSINESSES on the edge of Bradford on Avon are urging customers to keep coming, amid fears some may close altogether, after through traffic was banned from narrow local lanes this week to stop drivers using them as a ‘rat run’.

On Tuesday, Woolley Street was closed from the Woolley Green junction to New Road, as was Woolley Terrace and Cemetery Road - but drivers are allowed to reach homes and businesses.

Holt Road has been closed since May for work on the new roundabout at the Kingston Farm development, leading to traffic queues on that side of town, especially at rush hour.

Alison Ward, owner of The George pub on Woolley Street, said: “This is damaging to our business, particularly for the lunchtime trade. We are suffering because of it, the signage is misleading, people cannot find us.

“The closure was to deter people from using it as a rat run but that has negatively affected us – it is a double edged sword.

“On Wednesday we were told by highways that it will be re-opened at the end of July but that is still another six weeks of this.”

The new road closures have virtually cut off all access to the eight businesses at Westdale Park Home and Garden Centre, threatening their very existence.

“It is a massive pain in the neck. The developers have not considered us at all. People are finding it very hard to find us - I do not know if we will still be here when it ends,” said co-owner Charlie Clarke, who has worked at the site for 62 years.

“People in Woolley Street have complained to police and the council about drivers using it as a rat run and they my sympathy but people have businesses to run here, it impacts us all.”

The marketing manager at Woolley Grange Hotel in Woolley Street, Caroline Mackay, said: “We understand the works need to be done and the council have been very good liaising with us and the local residents, acting on any of our concerns.

“The works do not seem to have had a significant effect on our business but we are pleased to hear the completion date has moved forward.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We asked the developer to close these three narrow streets to through traffic for safety reasons as they were being used as rat runs.

“Local residents and anyone wishing to use The George pub and Woolley Grange Hotel still have access from Woolley Street, however Cemetery Lane will be barriered off from Holt Road and Woolley Terrace.

“This has been agreed with residents, businesses and the police. We are placing additional signs in the centre of Bradford on Avon guiding traffic to the local businesses.” in the area where the roads are closed.

“The closure was due to stay on throughout the closure of Holt Road with an original end date of September.

"However, we have been working with the developer and now hope to open Holt Road sooner and we have agreement from the local residents group and the businesses that these streets would then reopen early as well.”