BUSINESSES that were badly affected by the roadworks fiasco in Stonehouse should be given compensation for lost trade, a county council for the area has suggested.

Cllr Lesley Williams said shops, cafes, hairdressers and other businesses on Stonehouse High Street should be paid back for income lost because of the traffic jams.

She called on Gloucestershire County Council and its highways contractor Amey to make amends either through the return of business rates or by making efforts to improve footfall in the town.

The Labour councillor’s calls for an inquiry follow a number of complaints and issues surrounding the improvement work.

The roadworks and temporary traffic lights brought the busy high street to a standstill and caused numerous traffic problems over the last three of months.

This caused long delays for residents, commuters and deliveries in the area, meaning that journey times were longer and businesses potentially suffered as a result.

In particular there have been issues with a lack of parking for shoppers.

Cllr Williams said: “I am very proud of our local shops and I do not like to hear that they have suffered as a result of mismanagement and poor communication.

“I would like to see Gloucestershire County Council compensate local businesses for loss of income either through the return of business rates or by making practical gestures to improve footfall and access to the town’s shops.

“The review into what went wrong should include options on how to rectify these problems with the community.”

Even more frustration was caused when AMEY and GCC left behind heavy plant machinery for weeks after the work finished meaning that more parking spaces were taken away from local residents and shoppers.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways and flooding at Shire Hall, said: “I am disappointed to hear about the concerns raised.

“Whilst we are aware of traffic delays, we were specifically asked by Stonehouse Town Council to not close the road, which would have allowed the work to have been completed much quicker.

“In terms of parking in the lay-bys, this had to be suspended because poor parking was creating issues for the traffic moving through the road works and causing additional delays.

“I am sorry about the machinery that was left longer than necessary. Officers were in contact with local members, and it was removed on October 5, which was confirmed.

“Business rates are not kept by the county council, and we have been in contact with businesses, residents and town council throughout these works. I’d like to thank them again for their patience while the work took place.”

Councillors from Stonehouse Town Council, Stroud District Council and Gloucestershire County Council asked AMEY and GCC to hold a public meeting in September so that local residents could challenge the Highways provider over these issues.

Cllr Williams was originally joined by Glen Gogerly, UKIP county council candidate for Stonehouse, in calling for a refund of business rates paid during the three months of disruption.

He had Mr also requested that Stroud District Council suspend all parking charges leading up to Christmas “to restore confidence in the town”.

The work to make the road more durable started on June 22.