BUSINESSES say they have suffered a dramatic decrease in footfall after a main walkthrough at a shopping centre was cordoned off due to a broken roof.

It has been a month since the entrance to Crowngate Shopping Centre at Chapel Walk was shut off over safety concerns about falling debris from the roof.

The closure has effectively cut off an easy route between the High Street and Broad Street.

Esther Shutkver, owner of The Little Card Company, in the Crowngate's Friary Walk, said her business had suffered.

She said: “Footfall here is bad.

"The flow of people are no longer coming through because of the broken roof area being closed off.

"Most of my customers are over 60, so those who used to park near Reindeer Court now have to make a special effort to come see us - which is hard for them.”

Nigel Mee, owner of outdoor clothing store Rohan, has also said he had been affected by the closure.

He said: “After the pandemic, we had started to pick up before the barricades went up.

"But all the footfall that comes through Crowngate has stopped – you can’t see us down the street. This end of Broad Street is always quiet as anything even when town is heaving.”

Mr Mee said he felt the broken roof had come at exactly the wrong time, as his takings were already down due to lockdown.

He said: “This is the last thing we want coming back from Covid – the timing couldn’t be any worse.”

However, Mrs Shutkver praised her “golden” customers for rallying around and visiting the shop after a customer had posted a plea for people to support the shop on Facebook.

She said: “Someone put something on facebook and people have been coming from everywhere.

"We had visits from customers I hadn’t seen in two years.

"We’ve never asked for anything and it brings a tear to my eye how kind people have been.”

The effects of the pandemic are still fresh for independent stores in the area.

She said: “A lot of my customers are still anxious being outside and going shopping because of the virus.

"We are thankful the council have been incredible.

"We wouldn’t be here right now without them. Last year when we opened up, I was doing crossword puzzles. I didn’t see a soul in sight.”

Mrs Shutkver said: “For me to make a profit I need to sell a lot of my merchandise as my prices are so cheap.

"It was really worrying. I thought I needed to find something else to do, close down the business, find a job and become normal people again - but Worcester people have been amazing, I don’t have bigger words to thank them.”

The entrance was shut off on May 21.

The Worcester News has contacted Crowngate for a comment.