FED-UP business owners have hit out at Inverclyde Council's 'sudden decision' to close one of the main routes through Greenock town centre.

A stretch of Grey Place and West Blackhall Street are closed again this week as carriageway works are carried out.

A string of local traders today slammed the 'constant' roadworks in the area, blasting the impact it is having on their takings.

Tony Bonatti, who runs Tonino's Pizzeria on Grey Place, told the Tele that the repeating roadworks has life more difficult for his business.

He added: "This is now the fourth or fifth time they've closed this street in about six months.

"There was a lockdown for two years when all works could have been carried out. It feels like whoever's planning Inverclyde's roads doesn't drive on them.

"It's hard to know what the impact is on my business because it happens so often but it definitely hits footfall. It's getting to the point that there are roadworks here more often than there aren't.

"It's not a pretty sight, if you're sitting at the front of my shop having a pizza, you don't want to see traffic cones, diggers and road signs.

"I appreciate these works need to be done, but would it be impossible for the council's roads department to do as much of it in the one go as possible?

"We run a delivery service and cars struggle to park here to pick up the pizzas, it puts a hold on our wait times.

"It's why we have delivery waits of up to 90 minutes on a Saturday now, I'm trying to be realistic with our times.

"I got a letter last week notifying me, but what can you do in a week?

"I feel bad slating the council as they've supported me with a lot of the stuff I've done, but this disruption has got to stop."

Another upset business owner, who did not wish to be named, told the Tele they had received no notice about the latest round of works, which are scheduled to last until Friday night.

They added: "I turned up this morning and the workmen were there.

"The smell, the noise, the disruption puts customers off coming near and the road closures are also making doing deliveries more difficult.

"Our margins are already tight because of the impact Brexit's had on prices, this has only made things more difficult.

"Owners need time to try and plan ahead."

A third trader said footfall yesterday was reduced to almost zero.

They added: "We'd usually be quite busy in the mornings, but it's been very quiet. It has to be at least partly to do with the closure.

"There's constant roadworks here and we never get a proper heads up from the council about it."

The Tele approached Inverclyde Council for comment but had received no response as we went to press.