11:45am Tuesday 2nd September 2008
By Emily Allen
TRADERS in Wantage want compensation for the loss of thousands of pounds in trade which they say has been caused by roadworks.
For the last six weeks, shopkeepers and others in Wallingford Street say takings have dipped by about a quarter and some have been plagued by repeated power cuts.
Scottish and Southern Energy, which has been digging up the road since July 27 for electricity cabling work, was expected to complete the work this week.
A spokesman said: "There were hold-ups at the start because we found a Victorian underground water system and called in the archaeologists. We worked around it and it is still intact. We apologise to anyone who has been inconvenienced, but it was vital work which needed to be done."
But Barbara Bird, owner of Blakes wine and cocktail bar, said: "It's affected us very much.
"People don't want to be walking down the road past all the cones, it doesn't look attractive for people who want to sit in a pub. We have had a decline in trade, probably about £100 a day.
"I'm really annoyed to be honest because trade is bad enough as it is." She said: "We had no water because they broke one of the pipes which isn't good when you're trying to run a pub. We couldn't clean any of the glasses. And we've had power cuts. It's all had a knock-on effect.
"The traffic has been horrendous, it just backs up everywhere."
Phil Riding, manager of Topsport, said his takings were down about 25 per cent, and his shop had suffered about five power cuts lasting a couple of hours each time.
Speaking last week, he said: "The roadworks have cost us about £5,000 in loss of trade. For a little shop, it's a lot of money. This week, next week and the week before last should be the best weeks of the year for us with people going back to school. But there's not a lot we can do about it. We were told they were needed." Yvonne Riseley, relief manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "We are about 25 per cent down, it's affected us very badly. It was going down any way with all the shops moving to Sainsbury's but now it's completely dead. We are lucky if we take £150 a week.
"The crossing outside the shop is blocked off and people just can't be bothered to go all the way round the roadworks."
Michael Rowe, owner of Rowes Newsmarket, said: "It's been a nightmare, our business has been down 25 per cent. We've written to the people doing the work to try to get compensation, but I don't think we'll be able to get any. It's left me very annoyed and short in the pocket. It's been going on for six weeks and some customers I just won't get back because they will have developed new habits."
Stephen Ferris, manager of jewellers Fraser Hart, said it had cost the business a lot of money and prevented passers-by from browsing.
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