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'Customers say they'll see me in 10 months due to roadworks'

Josh Sandifordin Willenhall, Coventry
BBC A woman wearing a black branded fleece sits behind the counter of a chip shop. Behind her are kebab rotisseries, a heated display counter and a framed black and white photograph on the wall. She has her arms folded and is looking directly at the camera.BBC
Natassa Trattou fears the roadworks will hit her business

On a busy road in the Willenhall suburb of Coventry, cars whizz past signs warning them about the imminent start of a major 10-month road work project.

"I've had customers come in and ask me what's going on," said Natassa Trattou, who runs the Marina Fish Bar chip shop.

"They were like, 'oh, well, you're not going to see us for 10 months.'"

The length of the works on London Road have raised concerns among residents and businesses like Trattou's.

Due to begin later, the works are part of the next phase of a huge cycle path running all the way to the city centre, which council bosses promise will be worth the disruption due to increased safety and accessibility.

When complete, there will be a 0.6 mile (1km) segregated cycle lane, upgraded junctions, new crossings and resurfaced roads between Abbey Road and Tollbar End.

Coventry City Council said it had planned the work carefully to minimise disruption and two-way traffic would be possible throughout the majority of the work.

It said work was due to be complete in spring 2027 and there would be temporary traffic lights between June and September only when they were "absolutely necessary".

It added: "This work will also provide some real benefits that local people have asked for – the right turn in and out of Chase Avenue and crossings to help people to cross safely."

A yellow roadworks sign reads "Work starts here 15 Jun for 10 mths. Delays possible." It stands next to a blue weight limit sign on a grass verge beside a road. A car dealership and trees are visible in the background.
Signs on London Road warn of 10 months of disruption ahead of the cycleway works

But those along the route are bracing for significant disruption, including Trattou, who fears footfall could be down with long waits to clear traffic queues.

"We have a mortgage and bills to pay," she said. "We're just normal people, not multimillionaires.

"We can't blame people for not stopping by because they haven't got an extra hour to spare."

A man wearing a dark waterproof jacket and green jumper stands on a road near a junction. Behind him is a red and white delivery van and a car dealership. The sky is overcast.
Stephen White said the area would benefit from the works in the long run

Not everyone is negative about the scheme.

Stephen White, 67, who lives on a nearby street where improvements have already been completed, said he felt quite optimistic about the future of the area.

"Long term, it's a good thing," he said.

"Obviously when you have a building site it's going to be disarrayed for a little bit, but in the end it's what's needed.

"You can always moan about it but it gives people jobs… it's not just cycle lanes, it's everything else as well."

A side-by-side composite image of two people photographed on a street. On the left, an older man wearing glasses, a dark jacket and a light shirt stands near a road with traffic lights visible behind him. On the right, an older woman wearing sunglasses, a floral top and a dark jacket stands outside a shop front.
John Slevin and Janet Gardner are among residents critical of the cycleway plans

Other residents the BBC spoke to were critical of the plans.

Janet Gardner, 65, said: "It's always happening. The cars are more important than bike lanes, I think they're a waste of time. They need to sort the potholes out the roads are terrible."

John Slevin, 84, added: "I think Coventry City Council should come and have a look at how many people use the [bike] lanes. Nobody uses them. If they want to improve the roads, do [asphalt] and do it properly."

The scheme is the latest phase of a wider cycleway programme that has already brought months of roadworks elsewhere in the city.

That includes on Clifford Bridge Road where a stretch was made one-way for nine months during the construction of the Binley cycleway.

The council said the overall programme formed part of plans to encourage more people to walk, wheel and cycle while reducing congestion.

The authority has been asked to comment on the concerns raised by residents and businesses.

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