GoogleThe end of roadworks that had caused delays and disruption in a Devon town have been welcomed by traders.
There were three-way traffic lights around Drake’s statue in Tavistock which had caused congestion on a main route into the town.
National Grid said the works, which began on 17 November, were necessary to provide an electricity connection for a major new housing scheme in the town.
The Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID) said the disruption had been “really difficult and challenging” for traders.
Shop owner Richard Clark said the works had “definitely hit us and other local retailers”.
He said there was “a lot of optimism” following the end of work.
“It’s very welcome news indeed, it’s really exciting actually,” he said.
National Grid said there was never an ideal time for work but it had gone ahead with the upgrade as quickly and flexibly as possible to minimise the impact.
It said it wanted to “thank people who’ve been affected for their patience and understanding”.
Janna Sanders, the manager of the Tavistock BID, said: “It has been really difficult and challenging, it has impacted the businesses.
“When somebody has sat in it once, it puts them off – so it makes it hard to make the town centre appealing when they know there is roadworks in the way in.
“The town is open again for business over the weekend, we really hope people will come in and shop local.”
She questioned the timing of the work which she said had been “pretty bad for the town centre”.
“National Grid have been really keen to help, their hands are tied however I do think a bigger conversation needs to happen about the timings of these things,” she said.
“I think it needs to be had and that is obviously something the BID will work on in the new year.”
