It was great to finally read some positive news regarding the Sadlers Farm roadworks.

Much has been said about the huge delays faced by people commuting across the junction morning and night, but what about those of us who have to cross the junction several times a day?

As a self-employed driving instructor I estimate it has cost me at least £1,000 in cancelled lessons, increased fuel costs and less hours worked due to increased time between pupils.

I’m only one case, what about mobile hairdressers taxi drivers, delivery drivers, the list is endless?

In what are tough commercial times there appears to have been very little thought into the effect of these works on small businesses such as ours.

I can fully see the benefits of the scheme once completed, and I’m not naive enough to think a multi-million pound project such as this can be constructed with no disruption, but what I find really frustrating is the extended delays caused by bad planning since the scheme fell behind schedule.

Why the sudden rush to complete the scheme after so many delays? Is it because of penalty clauses placed on the contractors?

The recently published leaked e-mails by the Echo said it all. These works must be completed in time for the Olympics. Just goes to show the welfare of local people and businesses comes a distant second to the image we must portray during the games.

Mark Christmas
Spencer Road
Benfleet