TRADERS facing yet another set of roadworks chaos have been granted a reprieve.

Barnards Green shopkeepers were dismayed to find Cadent was planning to close Court Road during the busy Christmas shopping period.

This follows a lengthy spell of roadworks in Barnards Green earlier this year, which saw most of the busy high street shut off.

Last week, Cadent announced it was to carry on with work, provoking outrage from shopkeepers and councillors.

Malvern Town Council's operations manager Charles Porter contacted Cadent to explain the problem.

This came after Jenny Cain from Barnards Green Post Office called for the work to be postponed.

Mrs Cain said: "Barnards Green Traders have had nearly two years of struggling to trade through a pandemic, which also included months of Severn Trent digging up the high street when we were just getting back on our feet. Words fail me.

"If people are not able to access the Green from Court Road or feel that the roadworks are going to cause long delays that they wish to avoid, they will take their business elsewhere and the knock-on effect will be tremendous."

Since then, Cadent network supervisor Phil Waring has agreed to push back the works until January 2022.

This is a welcome break for the hard-pressed shops in Barnards Green, many of whom have struggled through the pandemic.

Since the postponement was announced, West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has called on residents to support their independent local shops.

The MP visited Barnards Green with Cllr Nick Houghton, mayor of Malvern last week.

She said: "Small businesses are the engine room of our economy and as we recover from the pandemic, we remember what an important part they play creating jobs and wealth.

"I was grateful that Malvern’s mayor, Nick Houghton, joined me to help promote Small Business Saturday, and visit some of the shops in Barnards Green.

"As Christmas approaches, I hope that this will inspire people to think and shop local and show support for the men and women who help to keep our high streets alive throughout the year."

Small business Saturday encourages people to get out and support local businesses in the run up to Christmas.