CORN Street in Witney will be resurfaced next year to fix the “shot to bits” road surface.

Oxfordshire County Council has conducted a site survey along the road to check the location of utility pipes beneath the road.

The council confirmed this is for resurfacing of the road – but not the pavement – and said the work will take place next year.

However no dates have yet been set for the work.

Corn Street business owners have said the work will harm trade but was necessary due to long-standing problems with pot holes.

Paul Spink, owner of Corn Street nightclub Fat Lil’s, said: “The construction of the road is pretty poor and the whole thing is falling to bits. The pot holes are terrible.

“It is going to be a bit of a nightmare for us, but a lot of our trade does not drive here.

“I would like to think the council will give us enough heads up so we can collectively work on contingencies.”

He added: “It is no good complaining about paying road tax and having pot holes and as soon as someone offers to do something about it complaining again.

“The road surface is absolutely shot to bits.”

Tahir Akram, owner of News Link in Corn Street, said: “It needs doing. “There is no doubt about it. There are plenty of pot holes.

“I just hope they can help us, trade-wise, and keep the road open as much as possible. They could try and do overnight works.

“We have suffered quite badly over the years because we have had gas and electricity works and the pavement was done recently.”

David Harvey, owner of W R Harvey & Co (Antiques) Ltd in Corn Street, said: “There is scarcely a week goes by without someone digging a hole in Corn Street and patching it up again. “The surface needs to be dug up and relaid completely.

“I just hope that when and if they shut Corn Street it will be for as short a period of time as possible to minimise disruption.”

County council deputy leader Rodney Rose said: “The road needs upgrading. It is part of our asset management repairs to all roads.”

The Oxford Mail asked the county council why the pavement along Corn Street, from Market Square to Cooper Mews, has been marked up.

County council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “The county council is planning to carry out routine maintenance, basically road resurfacing, on Corn Street.

“The details are being worked on at the moment so it is not possible to provide information on traffic management, start dates or locations where the work will begin and end.

“Every effort will be made to plan traffic management to minimise disruption for businesses and commuters. The final cost of the scheme is not confirmed, but we estimate about £420,000.”

The council said the markings relate to a recent site survey to check the location of utility pipes beneath the carriageway along Corn Street.