Jacki Dowler, owner of Bill’s Old Fashioned Cakes and Pies, estimates her business’ income has been down $5000 a week since the roadworks began and the parking out the front of the shop was sectioned off. 

An important part of the customer base was elderly and, denied the opportunity to park close, Ms Dowler said the customers had just stopped coming. 

In an effort to cater to this need, Bill’s has offered to deliver food to the Eskbank Street car park. 

“We have just been asking them what note they’ve got, say $20, and take them over the food and the change.”

Bill’s employs eight people, including a baker and pastry chef. She said it was coming to the point that she would have to cut people back to casual positions and reduce hours. 

“If I was in a dress shop I could just sit here and ride it out,” Ms Dowler said. 

“But we have to have something to sell. This shop has been here for 60 years and what we make is all made from scratch.”  

Across the road, at the Black Rock Cafe, Garry Boyd-Skinner has already reduced staff hours as clientele dwindled, with figures dropping an average of $1200 a week. One staff member has been put off and another’s hours have been reduced. 

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He said he had never seen a period like this in 11 years. 

“There’s been a total lack of information which gives you no time to make adjustments.”

Originally told to expect to see the planter boxes removed from outside the shop, Mr Boyd-Skinner said he and other business owners were unprepared for the extensive roadworks and finally, the one-way traffic that was set to last a month. It was flagged in January via a letter drop. 

“I’m not saying it’s all the fault of this – it’s the economy all over, loss of jobs at the mines, an abundance of food and coffee,” he said. 

“You work 70 hours a week to run your business and then, through no fault of your own, you’re on struggle street.”

Jacques Seliscar, who opened Hometown Cafe seven months ago said profits represented a third or even less of his previous takings due to a lack of customers.

“What they [council] are doing is great but they could have done better for the businesses in town because we are losing so much, so much. It’s money that you will never get back.”

Mr Seliscar said he rang council to ask if they could put a crossing in the barricades so people could access his business.

“They told me they were going to call me and four weeks later there was no call, nothing.”

Mr Seliscar has had to spend an increased amount of time stocking the cafe because his suppliers can’t make deliveries.

“They don’t want to supply anything because they said there is nowhere to park and they get a parking ticket. I’ve had to go to Coles, Woolworths, Aldi just to shop myself.”

Lack of convenient access has taken its toll on Busy Corner Takeaway, said co-owner Fon Pholyiam.

“It’s been very quiet, we were busy before but it’s affected us a lot,” she said.

“At lunch time and in the evening our customers are going somewhere else.”

Norma Tulley owner of Alena Wool and Craft described Main Street’s loss of foot traffic as a “disaster”.

Essence Hair and Beauty, and the jeweller Eva Inspired Creations, however, said they had not experienced a significant decrease in business.

Andrew Powrie, Lithgow Council’s new economic development manager, who started a fortnight ago, said he spoke with business owners who had contacted council, including Mr Boyd-Skinner and Ms Dowler, late last week.

“It seems that shoppers have changed their usual habitual shopping habits, there are particularly challenges with the hospitality businesses and cafes,” he said.

“On Main Street with any sort of roadworks there’s going to be pain points and there are going to be issues, we will work as hard as we can to minimise that pain.”

Mr Powrie said he was currently working on a ‘three-pronged communication plan’ to promote Main Street stores during the roadworks though extra signage, running a radio advertising campaign and publishing business specials and profiles through council’s social media.

“I’ll be talking and working with businesses daily to minimize as much of the disruption as we can,” he said.

Mr Powrie said the barricades on Main Street had a purpose.

“We need to keep the works as a work in progress and we need to do everything we can to ensure the safety and security of locals. The barriers are there for a reason.”

He invited concerned businesses to contact him on 6354 9988.