TRADERS in Cheltenham's lower High Street have been told they will receive no compensation for disruption caused by months of roadworks.

Business owners say they suffered a huge dip in trade between March and July as work took place to install 700 metres of underground gas piping in Tewkesbury Road.

With traffic queues clogging the road outside their shops, they claim customers kept away from the area to avoid the chaos.

Brian Crosby, owner of Westend Framing and Art in the lower High Street, wrote to Wales & West Utilities claiming compensation for his lost takings.

But this week he was left fuming when told he would receive nothing because his business was deemed to be "unaffected" by the works.

"I was astonished and angry with the response and regard it as totally unacceptable," he said.

"For the period during which the works took place my takings were considerably down. I will be counting the cost for months to come.

"There are several businesses in my immediate vicinity which could well go under through no fault of their own. Someone should be responsible for this and I believe it should be Wales & West.

"It seems shameful they would not do the honourable thing and take some responsibility by providing reasonable compensation."

After four months of traffic chaos, traders' misery was compounded when – just weeks after the project finished – the utilities company announced it would have to dig up a stretch of the road again due to an unforeseen problem.

The outside lanes of Tewkesbury Road between Colletts Drive and Gloucester Road will now be closed until early September.

Phil Maizonnier, owner of Cheltenham Angling Centre, said: "We suffered a notable dip in trade throughout the period when the roadworks were going on.

"The disappointing thing is that it began to pick up when the road reopened but has now suffered a second dip since roadworks started again."

Bob Yiend, a technician at Aroundabout Sound, added: "I would have thought there was a reasonable case for compensation. Business was certainly not as good as normal while works were taking place."

Traders have written to the company complaining about the decision, as well as notifying councillors and town MP Martin Horwood.

Ray Perry, of R & M Perry claims handling consultancy, acting on behalf of Wales and West Utilities, wrote to Mr Crosby saying the company would not pay out compensation because his business was only directly affected by the roadworks for two weeks.

He said: "I have received the project engineers report in which he states the works in Cheltenham High Street were completed within two weeks. He also says your business was not affected as pedestrian access was maintained throughout.

"The period of the works falls outside the scope of the compensation of small business regulations and I am unable to recommend payment."

A spokesman for Wales and West said the company had liaised with businesses to keep them fully informed of its plans and there were "robust procedures" in place to respond to requests for compensation.

Information is available on the company's website at www.wwutilities.co.uk.