TRADERS in Bradford on Avon are worried that a three-day closure of Silver Street in March, while works are carried out on the water supply, will hit business in the town.

The works, by Wessex Water, will see the busy section of road through Bradford closed from the Market Street roundabout Wednesday, March 1 to Friday, March 3, the busiest days of the week for commuters and shoppers.

There is currently confusion over what will happen to bus services through the town during the three-day closure, especially the 265 service between Bath and Trowbridge. Closing Silver Street means the only other way for traffic through the town is up Market Street and the steep Masons Lane, which is not usually used by buses.

Gwen Allison, deputy town mayor for Bradford on Avon, said: "We are looking at the buses being rerouted during the road closure and there will be signs put up beforehand to inform everyone of the changes.

"The closure is for three days so I would hope that it wouldn't have an effect on businesses in the road."

The closure will affect Silver Street for 100 metres, heading up the hill towards Springfield.

Kerensa Case, owner of Boundless Bloom in Silver Street, said: “I think it is always going to affect trade, especially with the car parking issues by the Co-op. People will still be able to go up and round for access but people don’t often do that.

"I have been here since 2014 and I have seen that road closed two or three times. As there have been issues with the parking then I do think that it may cause problems.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said: "During the works, all bus stops on the smaller town bus service will be served, however there could be some disruption due to traffic. The 265 service will not be able to stop along Springfield and New Road while the works take place."

Frome Minibuses, which runs the 98 local service, which criss-crosses the town between Sainsbury's and St Laurence School, said: "As far as I know we will be going up Mason's Lane. We are still in discussion with the council over the exact route but I believe we will turn around at Springfield."

A spokesman from Wiltshire Council said: “The provisional route for the 265, which isn’t confirmed, is that they also route via Mason’s Lane but they will not be able to serve Mount Pleasant or Springfields. This will mean that during the closure, passengers will need to catch the 265 from the Christchurch bus shelters, at the top of Masons Lane on the Bath Road.”