NORTHUMBERLAND Place traders are baffled by plans to start road works during the summer months. Devon County highways want to start the £400,000 enhancement scheme on June 6 and work on until July 14. They will stop for the height of the school holiday season in late July and August and pick up their tools once more in September. The scheme, which promises wider pedestrian access and tree-lined streets for a continental feel, has been on the cards for a number of years. But traders are confused as to why the work cannot start in the quieter winter months. Teignmouth tourism numbers are likely to swell this year with The Spirit of Teignmouth project and the award-winning play park on The Den. Klub Video owner, Chris Evans said: 'I am gobsmacked that they are going ahead with it in the worst possible time for the town. 'Of course they have their reasons, but I am baffled to what they are. It has been like this for as long as I can remember so I do not know what the great rush is,' he said. Newsagent Mike Fairweather said that the dust will cause problems for his outside displays. 'I won't be able to put my postcards or the ice-creams out like I usually do. 'We do rely to an extent on passing trade and the works will effect this, let alone what it will be like when the scheme is finished. 'They want to create a café culture, but there is only one café here,' he said. An exhibition is to be held on Tuesday at the Tomorrow's Teignmouth office in Northumberland Place. Devon County officers are inviting businesses and residents to ask questions on traffic and parking management during the works. They will be told to liase with contractors to minimise the effect on their businesses. Highways local services officer Graham Heath said that it was first planned to undertake works in the winter, but delays with specifically designed paving materials had put back the schedule. 'We intend to undertake works in phases to minimise disruption during the main holiday season,' he said. Teignmouth county councillor Chris Bray has presented the traders' case to the authority. He is 'very disappointed' by the decision. 'I did my best in taking through the issues with the administration and officers but in the end a decision was made to start in June. I very much regret it,' said Cllr Bray. The exhibition will be open from noon-1pm and 2pm-8pm on May 16.
