NEWS | Herefordshire Council says it will not be possible to compensate Widemarsh Street traders because it risks opening the floodgates to claims across the county

Devastating losses of up to 50% in sales have been reported in Widemarsh Street following a survey from the Hereford BID on the impact of the 17-week road improvement program.

Consequently, the business support organisation, a private limited company based in the city centre, has sought compensation on behalf of their members who are struggling to cope.

Feedback obtained from businesses who took part paints an alarming picture of poor communication, restricted or even refused access of deliveries during the day, and crucially, a devastating collapse in takings across the board.

Many owners report feeling desperate, angry, and frustrated at an issue that was not of their making.

During a meeting with Herefordshire Council representatives 10^th July, the Hereford BID described the impact on businesses including the loss in trade coupled with the physical impact of the noise and dust as shoppers avoided the area.

Barriers were often just 1 metre from shop frontages making it challenging for staff who were exposed for long periods of the day.

Whilst everyone who spoke to the Hereford BID was happy to see the road improved, it was widely felt that it was unfair to expect retailers to shoulder the financial burden.

To make matters worse, a foreman on site told the Hereford BID that there were not enough acoustic barriers to cover the whole of the building site. In Hereford BID’s view, these further risked incidents of noise disturbances.

Mike Truelove, CEO for the Hereford BID said “it is with great disappointment that we heard from Herefordshire Council it will not be possible to compensate traders as there is no obligation in law, and we are told, to do so would open the floodgates to claims around the county.

“Whilst I understand both points, there is the moral question of expecting businesses to continue to pay their normal outgoings whilst effectively being prohibited from fully trading across almost one third of the year – this seems rather unjust, and it is within the Council’s gift to give something back”.

The Hereford BID advises affected businesses to check their insurance policies for business disturbance cover as well as contact the VOA online where reductions on business rates are possible for losses caused by road works.