Major gas roadworks in Caerphilly town centre are choking trade and threatening people’s livelihoods, according to local business.
Traders are furious about the closure of Cardiff Road and say that trade has dropped off by between 60% and 85% since it was shut on Monday as part of a multimillion pound scheme to replace aging pipes.
David Prosser, who co-owns Caerphilly Indoor Market with brother Alan, said: “It’s going to get a a hell of a lot worse because they’ve got to go through the town. Apparently, they are going to overrun until after the New Year.
“Christmas in Caerphilly is going to be non-existent.”
Alan Prosser agreed and said that trade had dropped slowly since the initial start of the roadworks a few weeks back but had fallen dramatically since the full closure of Cardiff Road on Monday.
He said: “There is no reason for it be closed right now. Caerphilly County Borough Council said on its website ‘don’t go there because of the roadworks’. They’ve killed us off.
“If it goes on for weeks I can’t see half the traders surviving, but you never can tell.”
The roadworks, being carried out by Wales and West Utilities, are scheduled for eight to ten weeks. The company did not comment on any potential overruns.
Giovanna Belli, owner of the chip shop in Pentrebane Street which has been open for the last 78 years, said the roadworks were threatening her business.
She said: “It’s disastrous – absolutely disastrous. I don’t know how much longer we can keep going at this end of town. Since they closed the road off it’s unbelievable.
“Seventy-eight years and I think this could be the last nail in the coffin for us – and we are the cheapest in the area.”
Lisa Linnard runs The Retro Bin in Caerphilly Indoor Market and revealed that she took just £3 on Monday and nothing on Tuesday.
She said: “We all have bad days, and we all have good days, but nothing like this. There is nobody around – Caerphilly is like a ghost town.”
It was similar stories from other traders in the market who all reported lower footfall in the town and lower takings.
Independent town councillor Eddie Talbot, who is also chairman of the Caerphilly Independent Traders’ Association, is to call a public meeting about the disruption.
A spokeswoman for Wales and West Utilities said: “Our plans have been agreed with the local highways authority and we took steps ahead of the work starting to ensure local residents and traders were aware of our plans.
“This included holding a Public Exhibition in June for local councillors, traders, and residents to attend and get information about our proposed plans. In addition, all residents and businesses along the route were visited by the Project Officer who explained the scheme to them.”
A Caerphilly County Borough Council spokeswoman added: “We want to let people know that the town centre is open for business as usual while these essential improvement works are underway”.
“Travellers are advised where possible to access the town from Nantgarw Road, Castle Street, Van Road and to use Heol Cae Barrau Road to avoid the traffic congestion.”
Update: Caerphilly town traders urged to apply for compensation over lost business
Update: Caerphilly’s Labour politicians put pressure on over gas roadworks
"all residents and businesses along the route were visited by the Project Officer who explained the scheme to them" – Really? I can't comment for the traders, but the residents knew very little about what was planned, and I can say for certain no one knocked our door.
Time scales between 3 and 8 weeks have been mentioned, and even now the Cardiff Rd/Clive St. junction is closed, it's not entirely clear which streets have had the one-way restrictions changed to allow traffic flow through the residential streets behind Cardiff Rd.
I understand there have been called for these works to be carried on around the clock, but this is absurd and shows no respect for the residents, although I accept this would be the best outcome for the traders. The compromise is that works should be carried out seven days a week rather than the current five. It doesn't take much to work out this will reduce the time scale by around 30%.
It is incredibly naive, and out-of-touch with the fragile nature of the recovery, that in a time where the top of end of the town centre is starting to show a bit of growth, specifically with the re-opened market, and new businesses along Clive St., the council has allowed this extended period of disruption.
The Council, the Plaid Cymru Ward Councllors nor Wales and West Utilities have meaningfully consulted residents.
There have been no consultations, and like Craig I am also not on the list of those who it is professed may have been consulted, in fact, I know of no-one, i.e. resident of the town, who has been.
The Council should have ensured these works were carried out in the long summer days, during which we have at least five hours more daylight than at this time of year, the work would have taken half as long as it is now taking,another worrying issue is that some traders have appear to have been told that the schedules for completion of these works are already five weeks late, some residents have had information that the reason the Caerphilly Council delayed the works, in consultation with Wales and West Utilities, until now, is because the works would have conflicted with The Big cheese, The Proms in the Park and the Bike Race. Who is now suffering as a result?? The Observer Article holds the clues.
I live in Barlett Street in town and I got a letter from Wales & West some months ago warning of the roadwork’s and delays. A friend who lives in Broomfield Street also has had the same letter. Perhaps the two previous correspondents don't live in town but there certainly was consultation. Can't see why you keep blaming the Council, everyone know utility companies can basically do what they want when it comes to road works.
I had two letters! I don't mind the road closure, I can park outside my house now NO PROBLEM. Can't we get Cardiff Road closed permanently?
I do live in the town but I do not consider `a letter` consultation of any sort, although I am glad the previous contributors do consider that sufficient ` consultation`.
Can't help thinking that no matter what people do or who does what, certain people will always blame the Council / Councillors, even when it’s not their fault. It's a pity that such a good web site is being hijacked for obvious political purposes
I can only relate my own experience of the same work being undertaken along King Edward Avenue during the Summer. It went on, slowly, for many weeks.
The work is considered necessary and will, inevitably, cause disruption. The acid test is how long this will go on. I have heard many conflicting stories but predict that pressure from businesses and and residents are the key to speeding up the work.
This will involve extra cost to Wales and West Utilities. My fear is that a deal, on completion date, has already been done with the council. In which case they may expect the tax payer to fund the cost difference.
Like most people I am upset by the way this has been organised. I live in Ludlow st and despite being almost cut off by the works, we had no advance notie from the Project Manager or the Councillors. I was involved with a similar project in Bath a few years ago, and there was full public consultation regarding the problems caused by the road closure and most people wee happy. I sometimes wonder if there is an ulterior motive in this, to ruin the shopkeeprs in Cardiff road, and then then rebuild it as a pedestrian precint, as was propsewd about twenty years ago with the Chapman Warren Proposals, bu this is now being done on the quiet. Or perhaps everyone involved is incompetent, dont come canvassing me at the next election.
Its good to have acknowledgement that letters were received as I feel as a councillor such letters are disregarded and blame is sought after the fact. Phase 1 of the work has been carried out within the time proposed, Phase 2 is currently under way and W&W say 2-3 weeks to complete. Phase 3 has already had advance work carried out and the findings may allow the work to be completed ahead of time. Biggest problem in digging up roads is what you find once opened up for example the workers have found 9 different pipes to negotiate on Clive St/Cardiff Road. The work is W&W Utility and is nothing to do financially or contractually with Caerffili CBC.
I've met with a number of traders today and have been investigating better ways of getting the message out that the shops are all open for business, perhaps readers of the Observer can pass the message out to all friends,colleague, Facebook, Twitter etc and by the way COME ON WALES……
What letters, I have havent had any letters informing me about the necessary work that needs to be done. As I said, in Bath there was excellent communication betwen the contractors, local authority and residents. Increasingly I`m more and more disappointed with way Plaid Councillors ignore the residents, and I`m someone who consider himself a long term Plad supporter and was a Plaid member forty years ago, I expect better.
On reflection, I think I will take the Conservative view of life and be self centred. I quite the the current situation in Cardiff Road, the residential streets are quiet and peaceful, are not subjected to traffic pollution, the through traffic and can park easily, not a great ambition in life, since we have Resident`s Parking Permits. I would question the fall off in business on Cardiff Road, people can still walk there from their houses, or from the two official carparks, of course they have to pay there, so they can park as they normally, do in the residential streets, the buses and trains are still runinning so whats the problem?. And as a born again Conservative, I ask what have the shopkeepers of Cardiff Road done for me, I can get all I want at Morrisons, and its cheaper.