Works hit cash tills (From Stroud News and Journal)

Works hit cash tills

ONGOING road works by a water company are hitting town centre businesses hard in their pockets.

The closure of Brick Road by Severn Trent has been blamed for a 20 per cent drop in takings for one family firm.

Sunshine Foods said its profits have been affected by the roadworks which run from Brick Row to Lansdown.

The shop on Church Street, just off the High Street is near a car park which has been difficult to access except via the blocked route.

Proprietor Michael Hill said: "This always happens when they dig up that road because it's so difficult to get to the car park.

"You have to go all the way round the ring road. "We're not very happy about it."

Michael's father, Ray Hill said this year's figures show a 19.4 per cent drop on last year's takings.

However, he said, it is too early to blame the fall entirely on the closure of Brick Row as work is also going on in the High Street.

This is part of a series of projects by water firm Severn Trent.

Sewers which were in danger of collapsing are being secured and mains pipes are being replaced to improve water quality.

Other companies affected include Klick Photopoint. This week workmen were situated right outside Klick's front door.

Assistant Carole Wall said: "It does make life difficult. "You can hardly get in here if you've got a pushchair.

"It has definitely affected our business."

Organic cafe Woodruffs had to close when Severn Trent was re-lining pipes at the bottom of the High Street.

Owner Helen Wace said: "People come in here for organic, preservative free food. "But the chemical smell was so bad we had to close."

She added that the appearance of the town had not been helped by Severn Trent's work.

"The paving has been taken up so many times," she said, "it's starting to look really scruffy."

Woodruffs will close again when the works move further through the town.

When it finishes fixing sewers in the High Street, Severn Trent plans to move on to Threadneedle and Acre Street.

Work in the town centre was originally meant to be finished by the end of September but was delayed by the fringe festival and the collapse of sewers.

Severn Trent is to replace pipes in Riley's Road, Nelson Street, Trinity Road, Middle Street, Acre Street, Bisley Road and Bisley Old Road.

Spokesman Caroline Hosie said she could not yet confirm a completion date.