TRADERS in Bournemouth say a Tesco Express shop is damaging their business before it’s even opened.

Businesses along Wallisdown Road say builder’s vans, trucks and tarmac lorries used by the big chain have been blocking their shop fronts, stopping deliveries and putting off customers.

Residents above the flight of shops have even had their cars blocked in by metal fences as workmen try to get the premises ready to open on Friday, May 25.

It will be run by a team of 15 staff.

Staff at Wallisdown Pharmacy said they had had difficulties with the dispensing vans and also customers picking up prescriptions.

Dispenser Andrea Morris said: “There’s been a loss of business since the work started as they have blocked off our parking spaces outside.

“It’s been quite difficult for customers to get in for prescriptions.”

Pharmacist Luke Boateng said: “It has been a bit of a nightmare.”

Long Johns fish and chip shop manager Steve Gries said: “Why ever did the council let Tesco come in here?

“It will become a ghost town and we’ll lose two or three shops for the sake of one.”

He added: “I just think it is a big mistake because it will make four or five shops empty by the end of the year.

“Why do we need Tesco’s in every available space?”

Erean Yildirim has run Wallisdown News, which is opposite the Tesco premises, for six years.

He said: “We will have to wait and see. They could take our newspaper and lottery business away.”

Mike O’Shea, from the Ceiling Systems showroom on Alder Road, said: “It’s overkill for a Tesco Express.

“They have permanently blocked up the back alley and you can still see the mud stains where the dumper trucks have come round onto our forecourt.”

There had also been problems with Tarmac lorries blocking car parking spaces, he said.

Mr O’Shea added: “I cannot see the point of it all really – we’ve got an Aldi.

“Tesco is going to kill all the little shops around here.”

Justin Farey, from Centre Heating, said they had been inconvenienced by the work but the main concern is parking when the store opens.

“There’s limited parking out front and if Tesco is successful where are all the customers going to end up parking?

“We already have enough problems with people leaving their cars outside our shop.”

The company is looking into using a car clamping service, he said.

A Tesco spokesman said: “We are very sorry for any temporary disruption caused during the work to ready the store.

“We look forward to opening later this month and to providing additional shopping choice for the local community.”