Road closure will kill business, say traders (From Gazette Series)

Road closure will kill business, say traders

A ROAD closure in Cam has caused outrage among traders in the village who fear their businesses will never recover from the financial losses they are predicting.

Severn Trent water company recently announced it will close Cam High Street for three months next year in order to carry out extensive repair work on a mile-length of sewer that runs below the road.

However, businesses along the High Street claim this work will rob them of trade.

Jeremy Clutterbuck, joint director of L W Clutterbucks hardware and funeral directors, said: "As far as we are concerned it's going to be devastating."

Mr Clutterbucks is hoping to open a new post office in December after the closure of the Co-op post office in October. He fears, however, that the road closure planned for January will mean the post office fails before it has had chance to become established.

He told the Gazette: "Remuneration from the post office is dependent on the first three months of trade.

"Closing the road in January could cripple the post office."

Martin Bennett, of Martin's Travel, shares Mr Clutterbuck's concerns. He said: "Many businesses are worried that trade may be so badly affected they may be forced to close.

"It is very hard around here to get trade back once you have lost it. That three months will hurt."

Severn Trent will be carrying out the work in an attempt to reduce the number of times gardens in Cam flood during heavy rainfall.

Severn Trent spokesman Matt Wildsmith said: "We are doing our best to avoid as much inconvenience as possible.

"We hope people will recognise the long-term benefits against the short-term inconvenience."

The repair is going to cost £866,000 and to complete the work the water company believes it is necessary to close the High Street for approximately 10-12 weeks starting in January 2006.

An exact date for the closure has yet to be announced.

The stretch of road the company plans to close is from the Co-op roundabout at the bottom of Cam Pitch along the High Street to Manor Avenue, a distance of almost a mile.

Traffic will be diverted along the A38 and B4066 although residents and businesses will still have limited access.

Since the announcement, Cam Parish Council has held a meeting with local business leaders and Severn Trent but, despite reassurances from Severn Trent and a promise of compensation, traders were not happy.

Paul Cunningham, owner of A1 Appliances said at the meeting last Monday: "You Severn Trent have decided what you are going to do and you won't change it.

"I don't believe that you would be getting away with shutting a road outside Marks & Spencer but because it is Cam village you can get away with it."

Council chairman Cllr Dennis Andrewartha also told the water company:

"To all of them, this means food on the table. Their business is very important to them."