Local shoppers are abandoning Tavistock for Launceston, Okehampton and Plymouth to avoid traffic gridlock in the town, the Times has heard this week.

Profits of town traders are being affected due to roadworks causing huge tailbacks on Plymouth Road.

Works are taking place outside Texaco garage as part of a five-week scheme of improvements by Devon County Council to include a crossing upgrade, which is due for completion tomorrow (Friday, November 8).

There are also traffic lights at Drake’s Roundabout due to road widening work at the junction on Plymouth Road. These are being carried out by Churchill Retirement Living and are due to finish on November 29.

Traders in Tavistock said that the roadworks have caused frustration with shoppers who have abandoned their visits to the town and travelled instead to Launceston, Okehampton or Plymouth.

One trader from Brook Street believed that shops in Tavistock were quiet as the roadworks had not been planned properly.

Brook Street trader Linda Walker said: ‘The roadworks are having a huge impact on trading. People are saying “don’t shop in Tavistock due to the traffic lights”. Why were all the works allowed at once? It’s so damaging to the town. And with comments on social media it’s instant and detrimental.

‘Why are road closures not removed when they are not working on them? It took me 30 minutes to go from the Spar shop to Morrisons and 35 minutes to go from Brook Street to Walter Parsons in West Street.’

A local trader from West Street said that takings had been low since the roadworks began which he said had not been helped by people sharing on social media that you could not get into Tavistock.

‘People read this and go elsewhere,’ he said, ‘The roadworks have to happen but Tavistock is still very much open for business.’

Tavistock Pannier Market perimeter trader Mel Allen said: ‘I have had customers tell me that they’ve not been into Tavistock because of the roadworks. This added to the weather means it’s been pretty dire. Market traders are feeling it too.’

Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID) manager Janna Sanders said: ‘The ongoing roadworks are without a doubt affecting trade in the town centre. As people find it harder and more frustrating to get into town, they are choosing to shop elsewhere which is having a detrimental impact on our high street during an important shopping season.

‘Many of our traders rely on business in the months leading up to Christmas to ensure their survival during the quieter months in the New Year.

‘We have been in touch with DCC highways to express concern over the serious impact these roadworks are having and they are now investigating with urgency a way of easing the congestion.’

West Devon Borough councillor Mandy Ewings said the situation was a ‘traffic debacle’ that was so disruptive it was being mentioned on national traffic reports.

‘There has been a massive financial impact to some businesses and I believe some of this could have been avoided by providing the correct information to drivers and residents, the work not taking place all at the same time or synchronisation of traffic lights,’ she said.

‘I’ve written to DCC’s cabinet member for highways management to get some answers.’