Business owners have welcomed four months of pavement repairs - even though the work will be spread over the Christmas period.
Essex Highways started repairing slabs, blocks, covers and kerbs across 18 roads in Braintree on Monday.
The initiative will take till February to complete.
Essex Highways have vowed to stop work during December and will avoid working on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the market areas.
Clinic Manager of the Beauty Centre in New Street, Pauline Hume, said the work was long overdue.
She said: “We are in full agreement with it - I’ve lost count of the amount of people falling over outside here and smahing their faces open.
“I think we have to cut the council some slack. They aren’t going to be shutting off shop doors.”
Owner of Hedingham Models Sylvia Thorogood said the work could affect her Christmas trade.
“People will think Braintree is closed.
“I’m surprised Braintree Council haven’t been jumping up and down saying you can’t close footpaths for Christmas.
“Whatever happens, they need great big signs saying businesses are still open as usual.”
An Essex Highways spokesperson said: “We are carrying out footway improvement works to repair defects such as missing, uneven and broken slabs and kerbs in the town centre.
“These defects would have either been reported by the public or recorded during our regular inspections of the area.
“We are aware of concerns about the road surface in Great Square and High Street, however this is outside the scope of the current project.
“We will continue to monitor the area.”
The work is part of a £1m scheme to renovate four town centres in Essex to encourage visitor numbers, shoppers and tourism.
Other towns receiving new pavements are Shenfield, Billericay and Maldon.
Footpaths on the following roads will benefit from a revamp:
• New Street • Bank Street • Great Square
• High Street • Market Place • Market Street
• Swan Side • School Walk • Drury Lane
• Bocking End • Rayne Road • Fairfield Road
• Manor Street • Coggeshall Road • St Michaels Road
• Bradford Street • Victoria Street • The Avenue
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