Ruth Cadbury Calls for Compensation for Road Closure

Brentford businesses losing customers with limited road access

Businesses close to Brentford High Street have lost up to 50% of takings since the closure of the road to through traffic after a water main burst last week (1 February).

With roadwork set to continue until at least next weekend, Brentford councillor Ruth Cadbury has written to Thames Water demanding compensation for loss of earnings for effected traders.

The London Tile Company manager Grant Willis said footfall was down ‘at least 50%’. He added: ‘Afternoons are normally when it is busiest, but yesterday we only had one customer - at 1:30pm -until we closed. This is disastrous.’ Pets at Home manager Antonio Montero had the same experience: ‘We’ve seen takings fall by half in the past week since the water main burst.’ Neighbouring Majestic Wine has reported a fall in business of 25%.

This is the third time the water main has burst in the past two years. In August 2010, a major burst causing serious flooding to homes meant the High Street was disrupted for months as old iron pipes were lined with plastic.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: ‘We are really really sorry and we understand that the people of Brentford are frustrated. We are frustrated too and we want to get the road back to normal as soon as we can and want to get traffic back on the road as soon as we can.’

However, Councillor Cadbury, who is also deputy leader of Hounslow Council, said this is not enough. ‘Thames Water should make up for the loss of earnings for these local businesses, which are already trading in difficult circumstances following the economic downturn.’

February 8, 2012