THERE are fears that roadworks - which were scheduled to last 12 weeks and are now expected to take more than a year - could bankrupt some local shops.

Work to improve the junction at the White Shops in Catterick Garrison began in September 2016 and was originally planned to be completed in 12 weeks. But the scheme has been plagued by problems, as utility companies discovered cables and pipes under the road surface which they were unaware of.

The work is now expected to be completed by November 24, almost a year later than originally planned.

But businesses say trade has been hit so hard by the roadworks that some of them may not be trading by then.

Richmond MP Rishi Sunak has stepped in and is calling on agencies to speed up the completion of the project.

Some of the business owners were at meeting this week attended by a representative of North Yorkshire County Council and also Mr Sunak. They said they were facing bankruptcy because the work made it difficult for motorists to stop outside their businesses. Lengthy delays caused by temporary traffic lights had also reduced the flow of customers.

Mr Sunak said: “Understandably, these hard-pressed businesses are wondering how a programme of work expected to last three months can end up taking more than a year.”

One of the delays was prompted by the discovery of unknown cabling underground, owned by Vodafone.

Mr Sunak said one of his first priorities was to contact Vodafone to see if they can bring forward their work, scheduled for two days next month, July 9 and 14.

Vodafone says it understands the completion of work is being held up by drainage issues as well as the relocation of its cabling, stating: “Our agreement with the council was for the work to relocate the cabling to be completed by 14 June – 12 to 16 weeks after the agreed start date – with final completion by 14 July. We have been able to bring that forward to 4 July. We’re sorry that road users have been inconvenienced by these works but we will make every effort to complete on time.”

Mr Sunak said he would also investigate the role played by other utility companies in the hold-ups and would urge the county council and Richmondshire District Council – jointly responsible for the scheme – to find ways to help the businesses affected once the work was completed.

One of those affected are the owners of Frydayz Fish Bar, Peter and Tina Collins, who took over the fish and chip shop in March last year, just six months before the roadworks began and quickly turned it into an award-winning business.

Mr Collins, a former offshore oil rig worker, said: “When the sign went up in July the roadworks were planned it was the last thing we wanted to see, but we knew it was for the greater good and necessary for a development over the road.

“When work was started we were told straight away they had found some problems. We were then given a date in the new year for completion, then it was going to be finished in March, then July, then August. It’s just gone on like that; it’s gone from 12 weeks to 14 months.”

He added: “It’s soul-destroying. We’re using personal savings to keep up going.”

Ideas mooted at the meeting, held at JT’s Bar in the White shops parade, included an extension of the current free parking arrangements in the nearby car park but also measures to promote the businesses in the local area.

The programme of work is designed to increase the capacity of the main road through the garrison in preparation for the 1,900 new homes that will be built there in the future as the UK’s biggest army base expands.