FURIOUS traders are demanding answers as improvements to Skew Bridge continue to leave dozens out of pocket.

Members of the Skew Bridge Action Group gathered at the Rangers Peugeot dealership in Wilton Road this week, to share their concerns and thrash out an action plan. The group is made up of local firms situated along the A36. They have collected more than 600 signatures in ten days from fellow businesses and local residents, all protesting about the impact the works are having on trade.

Ponden Mill assistant manager Paul Thomas said businesses in Wilton Shopping Village had suffered major losses - some reporting a 40 per cent reduction in takings in comparison with the same period last year.

Wilton Road BP garage has calculated losing about 4,000 litres-worth of fuel sales per day every time the bridge is shut for repair work - while motorists are also feeling the effects, with constant delays.

Action group spokeswoman Margaret James who, with her husband, owns the Cricket Field Hotel, said: "We have had our business for 17 years and this is the first time we have ever had a loss and the only reason for that is when the road is closed off.

"We held a meeting at our hotel three weeks ago and were very concerned at the level of chaos on this road and the fact that it is causing so many problems for businesses and the general public.

"We have collected almost 600 signatures in that short space of time and the theme running through the comments is, why is the road closed when no one is working on it?"

Now traders are demanding that the Highways Agency hand over written confirmation of a completion date. They argue that the lack of a penalty clause means contractors have been allowed to run months overdue, and often close the bridge at weekends without turning up to do any work.

The action group will be sending copies of the petition to Salisbury district and Wiltshire county councils and to Salisbury MP Robert Key, on whom they are calling for support.

Initially, the Highways Agency forecast that the bridge works would last for a 45-week period, involving 15 road closures - but the scheme has been hampered by problems from the outset, including adverse weather and soil complications.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "We are looking at completing at the beginning of September."