Call for 'urgent compensation' for businesses hit by Pulborough road closure
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The A29 London Road has been shut since December 28 when a landslide left mud and debris strewn across the carriageway.
‘Road closed’ and diversion signs have been erected but some drivers have been causing havoc by using residential roads as cut-throughs – and shops in the village centre have faced a huge drop in trade.
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Hide AdHelen Johnson, who runs the Corn Store tea room and gift shop at Swan Bridge, fears the roads crisis could lead to the closure of her business.
She said: "The amount of footfall through the door has decreased drastically and the ones that have managed to get here are moaning that the diversion isn’t clearly marked, difficult to drive along due to parked cars and full of pot holes. I doubt they’ll make the effort again, it’s too much hassle.
"If this continues it could very easily result in the closure of our business. As if we aren’t suffering enough with energy prices and the threat of the river flooding our premises. “We aren’t even taking enough money to cover wage costs.”
She added: “We really need this situation sorted out urgently. Rates are going back up soon and there will be nothing to pay them with if this continues.
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Hide Ad“Some form of compensation for local business should be in place and urgently.
“The Cornstore is an important part of the village and we are in very real danger of losing it.”
Kelsie Whittemore, whose family run the Elite/Texaco/Spar, said: “Our garage workshop has been affected as it's harder for customers to get to us. The worst impact has been on fuel sales and shop sales. Fuel sales are down approx 80-85 per cent.”
Her father Richard said: “It’s a complete disaster. We’re still open for business but people can’t get to us. It’s out of our control and for the road to be closed this long is just a nightmare.”
The county council says that the road landslide is complex and it cannot yet say when repairs will be carried out and the road reopened.