Shopkeepers facing months of disruption are worried they might not survive a town centre overhaul.
Work on the £600,000 facelift, which is designed to bring Walton into the 21st century, is not expected to be finished until March 2005.
The High Street shopping centre has been closed to through traffic, although the works will be suspended during the holiday season.
But Amanda Wright, who helps to run a family bakers, said the business would be hit hard by the disruptions.
She said: "I don't think we can make it and I think there are a lot of other people, too. The trouble is, if they do not survive, there will be nothing left for people to come back to shop at."
Published Thursday January 22, 2004
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