Cubbington shops already taking hit from ten weeks of roadworks

The sewer renewal work in Cubbington Road, being carried out by Severn Trent contractor NMCNomenca, started last Tuesday with a section of the road between the junctions at Lonsdale Road and Telford Avenue being closed for ten weeks.

This is affecting shopkeepers at the businesses in Rugby Road, who say their normal takings are down because potential customers are being diverted away.

Ricky Jhuti, whose family owns Bargain Booze, said: “Takings were down by about 30 per cent this week which is quite substantial and throughout the day we usually get a lot of passing trade, but the signs make it look as if the whole road is closed.

“We’ve been in business for all of our lives and we know how customers think. After four weeks their habits start to change and if it is going to be like this for ten weeks it could take more than three months to get those customers back into the shop.

“They have said ten weeks but if they can work on Saturdays and Sundays there is an opportunity to complete the work a bit quicker, maybe even in half the time.”

David Wright, who co-owns Paper Stop, is concerned ‘businesses open as usual’ signs are not as prominent as road closure warnings.

He said: “We see the same people all of the time but we have lost the passing trade and the people who drop in when they are going to work.

“At the end of the day the quicker the work is done the better.”

Parish councillor David Saul is encouraging shopkeepers to apply for compensation from Severn Trent if they can prove their takings have been significantly affected.

He said he was disappointed the company had not notified the council or the shop keepers about the work earlier.

Mr Saul added: “Severn Trent have got to realise they can’t run rough shod over us.”

Chris Keys, a senior programme manager for Severn Trent, has said the works are essential and has asked for customers’ understanding while they are carried out.