Roadworks finish early - but businesses are still left counting the costs

The sewer improvement works, carried out in Cubbington Road by Severn Trent contractor NMCNomenca, were due to take ten weeks but were completed last Thursday - almost three weeks ahead of schedule.

Now traders at the Rugby Road shops in Cubbington, who had raised concerns when the project started in July, will apply to be reimbursed for the loss of business they incurred while the work took place.

Ricky Jhuti, whose family own Bargain Booze, said: “Takings were down between 45 and 50 per cent and on Friday and Saturday nights we were only taking about half of what we normally would and these are the nights which keep us afloat.

“Hopefully we can get some compensation. We have been told we can apply but I’ve heard it’s very difficult to claim.

“It could take months for customers to start coming back in because people change their habits but hopefully, with the school holidays coming to an end, things will start returning to normal.”

David Wright, the co-owner of Paper Stop, said the newsagent has had to shut down its National Lottery machine due to lack of custom and will be applying for compensation.

He added; “We’ve come so close to going out of business it’s unreal.”

Speaking last week, Severn Trent programme manager Tim Sawyer said: “This was essential work to help prevent sewer flooding at homes in the Parklands Avenue area.

“We are doing a lot of work in Leamington at the moment and we wanted to keep disruption to residents, local businesses and motorists to a minimum.

“In order to lessen the impact of work, we put up signs to say it was ‘business as usual’ for local traders, and we asked contractors to work extended hours, including at weekends, in order to complete the job as quickly as possible.

“As a result, I’m very happy to say that work in this area has been finished almost three weeks ahead of schedule and the roads now reopened.

“We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience and thank our customers and local businesses for their patience and co-operation during this important work.”