AN urgent meeting has been called to give businesses a voice as they said road closures are “killing trade”.

Outraged companies are speaking out over the “crippling” long-term closure of Ipswich Road in Colchester.

Ipswich Road South, near East Street, will be closed for five months from June 24 as part of Essex County Council's improvement scheme. 

As part of that work, Anglian Water will be finishing water main diversions and Eurovia can build a new wall near the railway line.

Businesses are predicting upheaval and a public meeting is being held at DX’s Rollerworld at Moorside Business Park.

Co-owner of DX’s Rollerworld Anne Khan said: “The upheaval these works are having is crippling many businesses and it’s time we all came together to find a resolution.

“Takings are down and when we ask people they say it’s because they avoid that part of town. It’s getting ridiculous.”

Staff from contractor Eurovia spoke with businesses but Anne said there may not be a solution.

She added: “It was nice of them to speak to us but it’s killing us. There is a pool of money but we don’t know how long it will last which is quite concerning.”

The road improvements involve carriageway widening and making single instead of multi-roundabouts.

Martin Goss (Lib Dem), Colchester councillor responsible for transport, said: “The roadworks are having an impact at a time when Anne Khan has invested significantly in the business. Siege House has raised concerns with me as well.

“In fairness Essex County Council said it would be happy to speak to businesses and I have told businesses to apply for rate reduction.”

Kevin Bentley, Essex county councillor for infrastructure, said: “I appreciate the concern amongst businesses.

“This work is vital to support the rapidly increasing growth we’re seeing in Colchester and will help provide extra highways capacity at key points.

“I am in close contact with the engineers to see work is carried out as quickly as possible to minimise impact.

“While I haven’t heard directly from the meeting’s organisers, I am confident we have done everything we can to keep people informed and explain the nature of this unfortunately complex but necessary work.”

The meeting will take place on June 4 at 7pm.