Ian Butler, 62, who runs Oakley Butchers in Merley and Broadstone, says traffic disruption has hit his business for the third summer running.
The current restrictions are part of SGN gas main replacement works, including closures on Queen Anne Drive, Canford Magna and Dunyeats Road.
Ian said: “It’s just been mental. This is the third summer in a row that we’ve had traffic issues and there just doesn’t seem to be any consideration for local businesses.
He said confusing signs and diversions had left customers unsure whether they could reach the shops.
Ian said: “We had a customer the other day who drove from Cranborne up towards the Willett Arms and saw signs saying ‘Road Closed, Residents Only’ and ‘Not Suitable for Diversion’ and she decided to go to Ferndown instead.”
He said the disruption was hitting trade while independent businesses were already under pressure.
Ian said: “We are losing customers. That’s the reality.
“At the moment, with rising costs, we can ill afford to lose that level of trade.”
He estimates trade has fallen by around 20 per cent during the works.
Ian said businesses were not told about the closures until the signs went up.
He said: “There’s been no consultation as far as we’re concerned. We didn’t know anything about it until the signs went up.”
Despite this, Ian urged customers to keep visiting the area.
He said: “People should ignore the impression that everything is shut. The roads may be restricted, but the businesses are still open.
“We’d really love people to continue supporting us and help keep us going.”
Ian, who took over Oakley Butchers in 2005, added: “If people don’t support small businesses, we’ll lose them and we’ll never get them back.
Ian’s comments come as BCP Council announces its Local Lane Rental Scheme, approved by the Government in June.
The scheme will let the council charge firms carrying out roadworks on some of the area’s busiest roads, with the aim of encouraging works to be completed more quickly and with less disruption.
BCP Council says a similar West Sussex scheme cut utility roadworks by 32.48 per cent and reduced total roadworks time by more than 3,000 days.
Councillor Andy Hadley (Image: Supplied)
Councillor Andy Hadley, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for highways, said: “We know just how frustrating roadworks can be for our residents – but we also know how important it is to improve our transport network, infrastructure and maintain and renew essential services.
“These new powers are a really significant step forward and have been proven to work in other areas across the country.
“As the first local authority in the South West to be implementing these powers I am really pleased that our application has been given the go-ahead and our officers will now get to work on the finer details before they come into effect next spring.”
The scheme is intended to cover more than 100 roads, or about 9.9 per cent of the BCP road network, with charges of up to £2,500 for works at the busiest times.