Roundabout roadworks are killing off our trade (From Echo)
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Roundabout roadworks are killing off our trade
12:30pm Friday 30th March 2012 in Local News
Ben Livings and fellow traders at the units near Sadlers Farm
BUSINESSES near the Sadlers Farm roundabout say the roadworks are killing their trade.
The Sadlers Hall Farm Shop in London Road, is closing for good this week while scores of other businesses are feeling the strain of changes to the major road layout.
Traffic ground to a halt earlier this month as the five mini roundabouts were replaced with a one-lane roundabout, causing up to two-mile tailbacks, forcing motorists to seek refuge on the A127.
Furious business owners claim this and the overrunning roadworks are driving away customers from the light industrial estate, with many considering relocating altogether if trade does not pick up.
Ben Livings, 36, owner of Sadlers Farm Office Furniture, said: “Business is absolutely horrendous. People are avoiding Sadlers Farm like the plague since they changed the layout.
“All we are trying to do is earn a living, and these roadworks are causing us a nightmare.
“It is nowhere near finished. They look like they will last another six months, so its not going to get better any time soon.
“The butchers next door is shutting this week because things are so bad, which is such a shame. He has been here longer than me.
“I have heard rumours three or four others might have to do the same.”
This comes after claims Essex County Council announced business owners would not receive any compensation for the disruption as access to the site has remained open throughout the scheme.
Paul Gibson, owner of C&G Plumbing, who was considering closing last August because of the roadworks, said: “Things are so bad we might as well not be here.
“We have considered shutting up shop, but time and time again we keep hanging on hoping things will improve but they just don’t.
“The queues around here are just horrendous, so more and more people are avoiding the A13.
“I just think it is disgusting the county council is not offering us any compensation for all these problems, not even just waiving the rent charges for a few months.
“We all just feel totally betrayed by them.”
Roadworks at the busy Benfleet roundabout, which links the A13 and A130, started in June 2010 and were originally scheduled to finish on Saturday.
Concerns have been raised that the project is months behind as Essex County Council has refused to give a definitive date of when the work will be finished.
Comments(15)
Biffo-bear
says...
1:39pm Fri 30 Mar 12
VANGE LES
says...
1:55pm Fri 30 Mar 12
turtlemanor
says...
2:05pm Fri 30 Mar 12
AndyBSG
says...
2:20pm Fri 30 Mar 12
VANGE LES wrote:No, because 18 months ago when they were told the impact of the work they weren't told the truth just as they weren't told the truth about how badly the project is overrunning
Shouldn't they have been moaning about this 18 months ago when the work started, not waiting till its nearly completed.
bob7
says...
2:25pm Fri 30 Mar 12
Brunning999
says...
3:18pm Fri 30 Mar 12
MilesBond
says...
4:22pm Fri 30 Mar 12
Bernard Fatsack
says...
4:34pm Fri 30 Mar 12
These road works seem a trifle over the top for 3 days worth of increased traffic. Poor traders like everyone nearby have suffered with the gridlock.
GentleGiant
says...
4:55pm Fri 30 Mar 12
She is a disgrace the this county
firedog
says...
5:03pm Fri 30 Mar 12
the roadworks that put me off.
Shops are facing hard times
everywhere,its the recession!
beaulocks
says...
9:13pm Fri 30 Mar 12
Brunning999 wrote:How are they working hard?
Feel sorry for them, I support anyone that is working hard these days trying to earn a living and paying taxes to support 1000's of unworthy benefit scroungers.
Read article properly they have no customers. Their milk, sugar and tea bags bill gone up but cant see anything else council shouls give compo for. Brunning get a grip u keep posting weird comments they aint had it this eaSY FOR YEARS.
beaulocks
says...
9:15pm Fri 30 Mar 12
Brunning999 wrote:Also, when did you last use the butchers? Well before the last time u used Tesco i guess.
Feel sorry for them, I support anyone that is working hard these days trying to earn a living and paying taxes to support 1000's of unworthy benefit scroungers.
Southend65
says...
7:28pm Sat 31 Mar 12
GentleGiant wrote:You could always email her at :
Has Tracy Chapman resigned yet?
She is a disgrace the this county
cllr.tracey.chapman@
essex.gov.uk
I doubt if she'll reply though as she's probably too busy picking up her £11,500 per annum "basic" expense allowance and her £35,310 per annum "special responsibility allowance".
I guess it finances a nice pad in Paglesham.
soul man
says...
9:38am Sun 1 Apr 12
alongtheway says...
1:28pm Fri 30 Mar 12