Traders left counting cost of Bath Road sewer works
TRADERS say the closure of one of Cheltenham's busiest roads will hit them in the pocket to the tune of thousands of pounds.
Bath Road has been closed off near its junction with the High Street as Severn Trent repairs a collapsed sewer.
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WORRIED: Jay Rahman, of Prithvi restaurant in Bath Road, Cheltenham
The work, which has caused traffic chaos as motorists try to find their way round the town's one-way system, is set to last for two weeks.
Jay Rahman, manager of Prithvi restaurant in Bath Road, said he had hardly had a booking since it started.
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"It has been really quiet this week," he said.
"We have got no cars coming past our front door, so we are losing all our passing trade.
"And the car park opposite where a lot of our customers park is completely empty.
"It is going to cost us thousands of pounds if it goes on for two weeks. I'm not happy about it at all."
Traders are doubly angry because the road was shut off over the summer for repairs to a blocked sewer pipe. Don D'Ambrosio, owner of the Carpet Emporium, said: "It's annoying because they closed the road off before and now they are doing it again.
"We've got absolutely no passing trade and it's very difficult for vehicles to get through to make deliveries.
"First of all we thought it was just going to be a couple of days – now we hear it will be two weeks. That will hit us hard."
It is understood work going ahead is to strengthen a sewer, which has collapsed under the weight of heavy traffic.
Staff at Wolfie's sandwich bar, also in Bath Road, said they hoped the loss in passing trade would be worth the trouble.
"It has hit passing trade but hopefully it will be worth it," said manager Emily Sutton.
"We have had problems with our sewerage for the past six years so taking a couple of weeks to fix it is not the end of the world."
Several traders in the road have called for compensation from Severn Trent for their projected loss in earnings.
Bosses at the water company said they would deal with each claim on an individual basis.
A spokeswoman apologised for the inconvenience caused by the work.
Traffic will be diverted either down College Road or along St James's Street while the work is carried out.
Comments
by Ms_Superstar
Sunday, October 28 2012, 12:15PM
“Passing trade?
Do people really drive past and think "Oh, I'll just pop in and pick up a carpet"? Or pop into a restauant for a 3-course meal while driving past? If people want to drive past, all they need to do is drive up Wellington Street, along Bath Street and then pick up Bath Road as before.
But this issue has led to increased traffic on other routes, and has thrown more emphasis on the badly-planned traffic "management" along the A4019 between Fairview Road and Swindon Road.”
by Laplands
Saturday, October 27 2012, 9:22PM
“The collapse of a sewer has led to chaos, they are directing traffic down past sandford park and the hospital. so low and behold when you get to the top of college road and you try and get out at the top you cant, because our wonderful people who divert traffic have forgotten to change the timing on the traffic lights, so when you are sitting patiently to turn right towards the eagle star building, you cant go anywhere because the lights only let about 6 cars across then it changes. Friday afternoon outside the hospital and all the way back down to london road was like a car park, i,m suprised good old cheltenham borough council never jumped on the band wagon and sent out their troops of traffic wardens to issue tickets to people waiting in the line of traffic for parking illegally.”
by lostforwords
Saturday, October 27 2012, 6:37PM
“Jay Rahman says that he's going to loose trade because of the roadwork's… really??? I never knew this restaurant existed until I used to empty the bins there!! I agree with Uselesswonder's comment as none of the other shops seem to be affected. If the food is that good at Mr Rahman's restaurant his customers wont mind the little detour up Wellington Street, Bath street and back around onto the Bath road to get to the carpark as many of the Wetherspoons customers do, whats going to happen when the proposed plans of changing the oneway system that will take the traffic entering the town up Albion street???….. and as for not getting deliveries whats wrong with Bath Parade??? ….WHICH IS DIRECLY OPPOSITE THE RESTRAURANT…. The roadwork's are there as its an emergency repair to reinforce a sewer that COLLAPSED and not planned maintenance …. I think someone needs a reality check”
by uselesswonder
Saturday, October 27 2012, 2:12PM
“quit whingeing.....if your shops are good enough then the trade won't be affected and anyway on that part of Bath Rd the cars are going too fast to see any of the few shops there.....”
by nikonman2010
Saturday, October 27 2012, 8:17AM
“Once again these idiots in retail see a claim when theres a blame tell me when they pedestrinised The Strand , The Prom outside Cav House the shop for our hoorah inhabitants or even the area between Boots corner and Chav filled lower high street did all the traders kick off then, even with all the work going on by The regent arcade are Marks and Sparks kicking off.............exactly, Sorry but its a few tinpot shops clutching at straws.
People driving along Bath Road normally have to park quite a long way unless you want your car redesigned by some plank in a Range Rover in Bath road car park.”