Retailers braced for roadwork misery

8:46am Tuesday 1st July 2008

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By Jon Reeve »

BUSINESSES are bracing themselves for the impact of roadworks they fear could choke the life out of their town.

Retailers are worried many shoppers will abandon Eastleigh now lengthy resurfacing work has started on one of themajor routes into the town centre.

Although diversions will be put in place, the loss of Southampton Road until November is widely expected to bring much of the already traffic-clogged town to a virtual standstill.

Outrage from traders and the borough council won a partial U-turn from Hampshire County Council, meaning the road will now reopen during the crucial November and December Christmas run-in.

The £1.5m project is split into three phases, closing sections for about six weeks at a time, starting with the stretch between the Romsey Road roundabout and Blenheim Road, by the Swan Centre. Council chiefs say they are planning a series of special events to help ensure people don't turn their back on Eastleigh.

Chairman of the Eastleigh local area commit tee, Cllr Chris Thomas is telling visitors that the town is still very much worth coming to.

"We're going to be doing all we can to support the traders during what's going to be a very difficult time for them,"

he said.

"It's clearly going to have an impact, but we're putting lots of exciting events on right across the summer, from music on the bandstand to the helicopter show - all to show it's business as usual."

But one business that stands to suffer more than most from the work, which began yesterday, is the Spike Island motorcycle shop.

The Southampton Road MoT station faces a potential crisis when it is cut off by the scheme's second phase, between Blenheim Road and Derby Road, which will last for six weeks.

"We understand the work's got to be done," said owner Gordon Bevis, "but if it puts us out of business that's 15 years of trading down the drain and three people unemployed."

He says he has tried to negotiate with the county council for continued access to the shop through a public car park, but progress has been slow.

"I've been told there's no chance of compensation, but it's quite a major thing and we need a little assistance from them because this is our time of year when we make the money to see us through the winter.

"They seemed very keen, but I've heard nothing since.

I'm not angry, but I need results because we've got to stay open."

Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce said it will be monitoring the progress of the work to ensure deadlines are kept to.

"It is also crucial that the public continue to support businesses in Eastleigh during this period to ensure their survival," said director general, Captain Jimmy Chestnutt.