Three sets of roadworks could close my business

A gift shop owner believes three different sets of roadworks have had an impact on her business and she could be forced to close.

Charlotte Duncan has run Treat Boutique in Debdale Lane, in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, for nearly 10 years, but a lack of footfall has left her worried about its future.

She said takings had dropped from about £500 a day to just £20 a day because customers were having difficulty accessing the shop.

A road closure is currently in place outside the shop due to emergency sewer repairs by Severn Trent, while separate roadworks are under way on the A52 at the Wheatcroft and Nottingham Knight junctions, both of which provide key links to the village.

A Severn Trent spokesperson said a partial road closure was in place to keep workers and the public safe as the repairs were carried out.

"This is a complex repair near a gas main, which has required manual digging for safety reasons," they added.

"We apologise for the disruption and thank residents and businesses for their patience while we complete the work."

National Highways programme manager Thomas Beasley said: "The improvements to the A52 will bring significant benefits, improving journey reliability and removing bottlenecks.

"We appreciate the disruption roadworks can cause and thank businesses and communities for their patience."

Charlotte said the road closure outside her shop was the latest in a string of "obstacles" that had significantly reduced visitor numbers to her gift shop.

"It's been nothing short of a nightmare. Sales have plummeted by more than 90% because of the lack of access to the shop," she said.

"The road leading to the shop is completely closed at one end, while at the other there's a 'road closed' sign, so people think they can't get to us at all.

"You can still walk to the shop and there is an alternative route, but that means going through another set of roadworks.

"People have been avoiding the area because the roadworks outside the shop were emergency works that weren't expected.

"On top of that, there are another two sets of roadworks affecting access to the village, including those at Wheatcroft roundabout and Nottingham Knight roundabout. It's all had a huge impact and sales have fallen beyond belief."

Treat Boutique is due to celebrate its 10th anniversary in October, but Charlotte said she was worried about the future of the business because of its current financial position.

"It's very touch and go," she added. "It just feels like we're being hit by one thing after another every day.

"We've got wages, rent and electricity bills mounting up, and if we're not bringing in enough money to cover all of that, then it's simply not worth it.

"At the moment, we're hanging on by a thread and just praying for a miracle."

Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.