Big company beats the little company (From Gazette Series)

Big company beats the little company

THE owner of a business in Dursley is in despair after admitting defeat in her David-v-Goliath battle against developers whom she claims cost her business thousands of pounds.

Amanda Cale, owner of Long Street-based Classy Glass and Awards, told the Gazette this week that after eight months of wrangling with developers Crest Nicholson it was now obvious she was not going to get anywhere.

Her problems began last December when a major fire at the former Bymacks site at the bottom of Long Street burned down the former carpet factory, resulting in the road being closed for ten weeks.

Mrs Cale says she lost vital business and filed a claim for compensation with Crest Nicholson.

"I lost 60 percent of my turnover and I was in that situation for ten weeks," she said this week.

"I have figures to prove it. My accountant provided accounts for the three previous years, which show how my trade was affected.

"All the businesses in Long Street had the same problem because people saw the road closed signs at the top of the street and didn't even bother trying to get to us.

"When I started corresponding with Crest Nicholson they put me through to their insurance company. We had to prove that damage had occurred. Because the fire didn't damage my property, it just stopped my customers getting to me, they wouldn't give me any compensation. We are still in business but the damage it did was considerable."

Mrs Cale next took her case to the company's chief executive but was referred back to the regional office and given the same response.

"If they had done something about the factory in the first place and secured it we wouldn't be in this situation," she said.

"It is a little company against a big company."

She added that MP David Drew had attempted to mediate with Crest Nicholson on her behalf but without success.

"What really irks is that they have made no apology of any kind," she said. "I feel as though they have shown a total disregard for their neighbours.

"The last communication I had with them was in July, when they closed the book on the case. In the end I had to move on because there was nothing else I could do."

She says it was a similar story earlier this year when all premises in Long Street were without water because workmen on the Crest Nicholson site ruptured the water supply.

Mrs Cale said she feels sympathy for the businesses in Cam, whom she believes will be similarly affected by loss of earnings when the High Street closes for sewage works next year.

Crest Nicholson spokeswoman Liz Lewis told the Gazette that the company was in no way responsible for the fires which led to the road being closed and was under no obligation to pay compensation.

She added: "Crest Nicholson does not have a policy on compensation - they take each case on its merits."

On the matter of the ruptured water main, Crest Nicholson estates completion manager Bill Heaney said: "Whilst every effort is made to locate water pipes, Severn Trent Water was not able to supply accurate maps of the pipes carrying water on this site. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."