PORT retailers are upset over delays to major regeneration work in the town centre.

It is understood Shore Street could potentially remain shut until February 16, despite hopes that the closure would be lifted this month.

Contractors working in the street have faced unexpected problems due to the presence of power cables.

But the manager of a large store in Princes Street says the closure is affecting trade and he wants the work finished as soon as possible.

He told the Telegraph: “It’s ridiculous, the amount of time they’ve had to get the problem sorted. 

“It’s affected our business.

“Our sales have been down since the work started.

“There was no-one here working on the road last week.”

The work is the second phase of a regeneration project which saw the opening of a £500,000 spur road, allowing traffic access from the A8 into the town.

Once the road re-opens it will be transformed into a civic space which will extend over Shore Street from the front of the Town Hall towards the grass lawn on the site of the former car park.

Councillor Drew McKenzie says the situation is not ideal.

He said: “It’s not going to get finished any time this week.

“The sooner it is done the better.

“They are working in the winter and have come across unexpected problems.

“It’s not an ideal situation.”
Shop assistant Christine McIntyre, pictured inset, who works at Port Hardware, says the road closure and parking issues are making it difficult for people to shop in the town.

She said: “It’s blocking off all the traffic and the spur road hasn’t made anything any better.

“I’m surprised there’s not been an accident.

“The parking is terrible here.

“Half an hour is not enough time for customers, even an hour would be better.

“It’s rushing people out of the shops, they’re more worried about getting a parking ticket.”

Shopper Duncan Lynch, 72, said: “It’s a disgrace. You can’t get moving in the town. 

“The work should have been done when they said it would be done.”

The project is being delivered on behalf of the council by the urban regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde and the Telegraph contacted both organisations for comment.

A council spokesman said: “Parking arrangements in Port Glasgow town centre went through a full public consultation process before being implemented where people had the opportunity to make their views known.”

No response was available from RI.