WORKS to replace notorious kerbs in a Hereford city centre street have finally concluded.

Originally scheduled to finish in July, the pedestrianlised part of Widemarsh Street has reopened today (September 4). 

The works, which are part of a scheme to improve the city centre, were originally scheduled to finish in July but have only just been completed.

The previous 50mm kerb, which had been the cause of several trips and falls since being installed in 2011, has been removed by lifting and replacing the road surface, with new channel blocks and a drainage system also being added. The project has reportedly come at a cost of £1.2 million.

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The prolonged delays caused drops in sales of up to 50 per cent for traders on the street according to a survey by Hereford Business Improvement District (BID).

Hereford Times: The street is now significantly safer.The street is now significantly safer. (Image: Joshua Dyer)

Speaking in June, Heather Smith, who co-owns the Home and Country Store on the street with husband Nick, said: “It has impacted all of us, it has been quite brutal at times”.

As well as the physical obstruction, with passing customers effectively split in two by the roadworks, Mrs Smith said “the noise and dust have put people off.”

She was disappointed but not surprised not to be compensated for the disruption, as “we didn’t even get anything for Covid”.

Les Black, who runs fashion store M Black & Sons, said: “It’s not been good, particularly when the work was right outside our door. It’s been noisy and smelly with not much room on the pavement, which puts people off.

“People see the signs saying, ‘road closed’, so they think it’s closed to everyone and go somewhere else.”

He added: “This is the second time. When they put in the original surface in 2010, it was like a war zone.”

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