BUSINESS owners are still coming to terms with the blow of facing another two-and-a-half months without the bridge link – a major route into the centre of Evesham.

And they say they could and should have known the extent of the delay sooner.

Adrian Lowe, who owns OHL Stationers in Evesham High Street, said: “It’s a pity it’s taken them so long to issue a statement. It could have been issued in November.

I wish the council and Hochtief had been been more open about what was going on.”

And Evesham’s mayor Mark Goodge said: “One of the things that still frustrates me is it seems to be the case that the contractors appear to have known about this before Christmas.

“If this had been known earlier it would have prevented a whole lot of rumours. I think the towns people of Evesham deserve better than being left in the dark.”

Tony Rowland, chairman of the Vale of Evesham Commerce and Tourism Association (VECTA), said he was surprised by the opening date. “The concrete is booked to be poured for mid-February,” he said.

“If that’s the case it is a very tight date.”

Ashley Judge, of Big Whoop Comics in Vine Court, said the ongoing disruption has been a bitter blow to business.