Roadworks affecting Littleborough business

Workmen digging directly outside the door of 25 Ten Boutique

Boutique owner Kelly Turner-Mitchell is frustrated with Rochdale Council and the way they have undertaken roadworks in Littleborough.

The latest roadworks in the area has seen workmen digging the road and street up directly outside of the door of 25 Ten Boutique on Church Street.

Kelly said: “I understand the need for the improvements and road safety and that isn’t my issue. I just think they could have been planned a lot better and businesses could have been more informed.”

Rochdale Council has been making road safety improvements to Hare Hill Road and now Church Street - the zebra crossing on Church Street isbeing changed to a pelican crossing.

“We weren’t even consulted properly about what was going on. One day a man came in with a letter telling me about the work and when I asked him how long it would take and what affect it would have, he didn’t seem to have any answers. The next thing I know, they are digging up the road with a pneumatic drill directly outside of the door,” said Kelly.

Workmen digging directly outside the door of 25 Ten Boutique

25 Ten Boutique recently moved to Littleborough from Rochdale Town Centre. Kelly added: “A lot of my customers are based in Rochdale and so they have to travel to get to us. The roadworks have had an effect on trade because people haven’t been able to get to us.”

Kelly would have liked the chance to close the business on the day of the improvements rather than putting up with the disruption directly outside her door. “If we had been told then I could have made the decision to close for that day so it didn’t affect us or our customers but we weren’t given the information in time to do that,” said Kelly.

Rochdale Council has apologised to Kelly, via Twitter!, but Kelly hasn’t heard anything else on the matter. She said: “I got an apology tweet but that has been it. I did ask if they were going to reimburse my loss of earnings but I haven’t heard anything and I doubt I will.”

This isn’t the first complaint regarding the on going roadworks in Littleborough. Local businesses have complained about the lack of consultation and the effect that the roadworks have had on their businesses, with some stating that they have lost up to £800 a week.

The roadworks in the area started in February.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council said: “Safety is our number one priority and these improvements will make Littleborough a safer place to visit and shop.

"The works were agreed after consultation with local businesses and we are working to minimise the disruption by carrying out much of the work off peak and in small sections to ensure that pedestrian access is maintained as often as possible.”

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/1/businessnews/86229/littleborough-roadworks-badly-affecting-local-businesses