WORKS on town centre improvements in Tenbury are still not completed.

It had been intended that the first phase of the improvements would be finished by the end of March.

But the controversial project that has caused anguish to traders and traffic chaos at times is still waiting to be finished.

Alan Slatter, landlord at The Tavern for the past 15 years, believes that it is not good enough.

“There is still some tarmac to be laid as well as bollards and street furniture to be put in,” said Mr Slatter.

He said that like other businesses in Tenbury he believes that the trade at his pub has been damaged by the work.

“Tourism is important to Tenbury and we are now in the tourism season so this is not good for Tenbury,” he added.

Sarah Thompson, chairman of the Tenbury Chamber of Trade, said that there had been concerns about the impact of the project but it was not the issue that it had been earlier in the year.

Work on the first of the project started in January after a long delay.

It had been originally intended that the work would coincide with the building of the Tesco supermarket but eventually it was decided to go ahead.

But as soon as it began traders were claiming that business had nose dived.

Shops reported a loss of trade at what is normally one of the most difficult times of the year.

Sarah Thompson said at the time that trade including at her own business was down and that more needed to be done to make people aware that Tenbury remained open for business.

She believes that signs warning of delays and diversions put people off visiting Tenbury.

Ken Pollock, who represents the town on Worcestershire County Council, confirmed that there was a problem.

Changes were made to the working arrangements in a bid to improve the situation but there were complaints about long delays to traffic because of the way in which one-way traffic signals were being used.

A decision was made to undertake work at night but this resulted in complaints that the noise and disturbance was affecting people living in the area who could not sleep.

Controversy about the scheme dates back to well before any work actually started.

Despite a consultation exercise that included public exhibitions in the Pump Rooms the school was dogged by rows about the materials that were being used including claims that the wishes of the people of Tenbury had been ignored and cheaper and inferior materials used to save money.

This was denied by Worcestershire County Council who also refuted a claim that stone was India quarried by exploited peasant labour was being used.

Ken Pollock, has defended the scheme.

"We are very pleased that Phase One of the Tenbury Public Realm Scheme is nearing completion with some of the final snagging works being undertaken this week, which includes renewing some of the signage and installing bollards,” he said.

“Following on from the original scheme, some additional footway block work is being agreed, so residents should see this work being implemented over the coming weeks."