“WE are still open.”

That is the message from traders on Andover’s Upper High Street, who claim they have suffered a significant loss in business since road improvement works began near their shops in late February.

The owners of the businesses, which include shops such as Meta 24 and eateries Willows Cafe and the Golden Dragon, are worried that customers think they are shut due to a road closure sign at the top of Newbury Street.

They also claim they have lost “drop-off” trade from drivers who do not think they can access the road.

Hampshire County Council, which is administering the £600,000 improvement scheme, has put in measures to help the businesses during the six-month project, such as pedestrian access and the installation of a “businesses open as usual” sign.

However some owners, such as Armando Camara from Carmara’s Fish and Chips, claim they have still suffered a 20 per cent loss of trade.

He said: “We used to get a lot of collection orders but they have stopped coming because they think the road is shut.

“We’ve lost about £1,000 each week, which is about 20 per cent of our trade.”

Asked what his message to the residents of Andover was, he said: “Please keep coming because the road is still open and so are we.”

That message has been echoed by deputy mayor Iris Andersen, who met with the businesses last week to discuss the issue.

She said: “This is just about getting people to come up here and support these businesses.

“All of them are still open and you can still access them as normal.”

The project, which is due to finish in August, includes accessibility improvements for pedestrians and cyclists around the Upper High Street and Chantry Street.

At the start of the works, HCC executive member for economy, transport and environment Councillor Seán Woodward said he hoped the new layout would “encourage more people to cycle and walk around Andover” but promised access to businesses would be “maintained as far as possible.”

The Andover Advertiser contacted the council for a comment on the businesses’ loss of trade but at the time of publication it had not responded.