A DEVASTATED Kidderminster haberdashery shop owner is closing after almost two decades next month because she says town centre improvement works have killed off her business.

Elizabeth Ireland, who runs Top Stitchers in Bridge Street, said Wyre Forest District Council’s £2million project designed to boost Kidderminster town centre for shoppers and traders had merely seen her lose a quarter of her trade, leaving her with no option but to close in June.

She said the closure of Exchange Street in January while improvements works are carried out has put customers off from going to her shop and neighbouring businesses.

Regeneration bosses at Wyre Forest District Council said it was “regrettable” to see Top Stitchers close but added the project would transform the whole town centre and improve its future trading capacity.

But Mrs Ireland said: “Since the council closed Exchange Street in January for these works, my business has been affected terribly.

“You expect trade to drop off a little after Christmas but things have been getting worse and I am down a least a quarter compared with the first few months of last year.

“I simply cannot continue like this and have no choice but to close. I will be having a closing down sale in June and that will be it.

“It’s all very well saying these works will benefit traders once they are complete but who will they benefit if we are not here anymore?

“We have not been offered any reduction in our rates but we still have to pay all our bills with far less income than we had before.

“I have been here 17 years and built up a good little business. I survived the recession and a huge fire nearby which caused smoke damage to much of my stock in 2011.

“After a good Christmas, I was looking forward to the new year but, with a heavy heart, I’m having to close down instead.”

Mike Parker, Director of Economic Prosperity and Place, Wyre Forest District Council said: “The project is investing £2m to improve the vitality and viability of the town to ensure that it remains attractive for shoppers and supports our local businesses.

“The work affecting Bridge Street comes from Exchange Street and Oxford Street where we are improving the bus stops and taxi ranks to make it easier for people to get into the town on public transport as well as creating a new public space outside the Town Hall.

“Unfortunately, it is not possible to undertake this project without the road closures that have been put in place.

“We recognise that these have an impact but our contractors are working as quickly as possible to minimise the disruption and get back to ‘business as usual’. We expect the work in this part of the town to be completed in May.

“Any business owner who believes they have been detrimentally affected by the works can approach the Valuation Office to discuss their position regarding business rates.

“Clearly the loss of any business to the town is regrettable but the works are being undertaken for the greater good of the town and its future trading capability.”