TRADERS struggling to survive during major gas works in a town centre have accused Bexley Council of doing nothing to help them.

The businesses in Sidcup High Street are facing lean times as Southern Gas Networks replace the gas mains under the road.

The £100,000 project, which began three weeks ago, is due to last another 11 weeks.

High Street barber Mike Lowe, who says business is down a third since the work began, asked the council if it would forgo its parking charges in one of the town's car parks to try and entice shoppers into the town.

But he said the council refused because it said it could not afford to lose the money.

The council's cabinet member for transport, Councillor Peter Craske, has already criticised the company doing the work for failing to publicise it properly.

Cllr Craske claims the company did not deliver the 4,000 leaflets to businesses and residents which it had promised, and also failed to issue a promised press release.

He said: "How can we trust anything else it tells us?"

Mr Lowe says traders accept the work has to be done and it will cause disruption but says they are angry their businesses are having to pay the price.

He said: "There are fewer and fewer people coming into the town.

"The car parks are little more than half full.

"One woman has already shut up shop because she says it is not worth staying open while the work is being done."

Mr Lowe says after the work is finished, the town centre faces more disruption while the road is resurfaced, although the council has promised this work will be done overnight.

Cllr Craske says the council had looked at suspending parking charges and yellow lines but said it would lose £1,500 a week, which it cannot recoup.

And he says suspending the yellow lines would cause more traffic problems.

He added: "We feel we are doing the best we can. We have council officers on site every day talking to traders and trying to iron out any problems."