A CHIP-SHOP owner, who has been serving customers for more than 30 years, says the roadworks on March High Street are destroying his business.

Tommy Cheung, 55, says trade has more than halved at his Golden Land fish and chip shop since part of the town’s High Street was closed for gas mains repairs.

“In all my years of serving fish and chips, I have never experienced anything like this,” he said. “I have lost all the passing trade.

“It’s the worst dip in business I have ever experienced in my life. I’m just stuck sitting in the shop waiting for customers.”

Mr Cheung has been selling fish and chips for 32 years, and has owned the Golden Land takeaway for the last six.

“We don’t have a chance of surviving while these roadworks are here,” he said. “It’s getting worse all the time. If this goes on much longer, it will destroy the business.”

Mr Cheung said he is frustrated that the work is taking so long and believed it should be possible to open at least part of the road.

“I hope they send more people to finish the work as quickly as possible. I appreciate this is necessary but I need to think of making a living.

“I won’t stand a chance if it goes on longer than the five weeks. I’ve heard some people saying it could last two months, if that happened it would be the end of us.”

Mr Cheung said customers are put off by the roadworks, and that around 70% of his normal lunchtime trade has been lost.

“It’s just so inconvenient for people. I met a regular customer in town recently who has stopped coming in because of the incovenience.”