Wycombe market trader: 'Roadwork is denting business'

7:30am Wednesday 13th June 2012 in High Wycombe By Simon Farr

Wycombe market trader: 'Roadwork is denting business' Wycombe market trader: 'Roadwork is denting business'

A FURIOUS market trader has blasted transport chiefs after claiming long-running roadwork is denting morale and town centre business.

Jonathan Hill, who runs a card stall on the Wycombe market, has branded the four-month resurfacing of the High Street and Church Street “a joke”.

The work has prevented buses from stopping in the High Street before travelling on to the bus station – which Mr Hill claims has put off many shoppers, particularly the elderly, from visiting the market end of town.

Mr Hill said: “It’s a joke. We have lost so many customers, especially the elderly because they do not want, or are unable, to walk in the rain from either Easton Street or the bus station. It’s too far for them.

“I must be missing at least 50 regular customers. I’ve seen a couple round town and they said they’ve not visited because of the bus situation.

“Times are tough at the moment; if I sell 50 £1.50 cards a day, that’s my rent effectively covered, so losing regular customers is taking its toll.

“There’s so much going against the High Street at the moment and it just seems like no-one at either council really cares or will do anything about it - it’s like there’s some kind of vendetta against the High Street.”

Transport for Buckinghamshire began treating the High Street in February before moving on to Church Street in April.

But this was delayed by the winter weather and a mix-up with a contractor which supplied a “slightly different shade” of road surface. This was amended at “no extra cost”, the county council said.

TfB said the resurfacing is due to be completed on Thursday, subject to the weather, and buses would return to their usual route through the town once the work has been completed.

Spokesman Rosemary Bryant added: “Whilst the surfacing work has been carried out we have taken the opportunity to create a slightly new layout for buses.

“We have removed the traffic signals to give a clear line of sight for the buses to reduce queuing and to make it easier for pedestrians.”

Comments (12)

9:17am Wed 13 Jun 12

acjy1985 says...

"A FURIOUS market trader has blasted transport chiefs after claiming long-running roadwork is denting moral and town centre business."

Aaah, would that be morale then? Or have work ethics really slipped due to the roadworks?
"A FURIOUS market trader has blasted transport chiefs after claiming long-running roadwork is denting moral and town centre business." Aaah, would that be morale then? Or have work ethics really slipped due to the roadworks? acjy1985

10:07am Wed 13 Jun 12

daemonite says...

It's a pity that some people that comment on these articles have nothing better to do than to be so pedantic. It realy is sad if you have to check whether a letter is left out or a punctuation is missing. Most people now wot is ment. Get a life.
It's a pity that some people that comment on these articles have nothing better to do than to be so pedantic. It realy is sad if you have to check whether a letter is left out or a punctuation is missing. Most people now wot is ment. Get a life. daemonite

11:50am Wed 13 Jun 12

DannyDiv says...

Put your prices down son, ten pence a card is about right.
Put your prices down son, ten pence a card is about right. DannyDiv

12:59pm Wed 13 Jun 12

Tharus Bond says...

when are they supposed to get the work done then?
when are they supposed to get the work done then? Tharus Bond

1:19pm Wed 13 Jun 12

acjy1985 says...

daemonite wrote:
It's a pity that some people that comment on these articles have nothing better to do than to be so pedantic. It realy is sad if you have to check whether a letter is left out or a punctuation is missing. Most people now wot is ment. Get a life.
It wasn't being pedantic, it was a light quip as in this instance it made a big difference to the meaning of what was written. This is something that people with an ounce of intelligence would have understood.
[quote][p][bold]daemonite[/bold] wrote: It's a pity that some people that comment on these articles have nothing better to do than to be so pedantic. It realy is sad if you have to check whether a letter is left out or a punctuation is missing. Most people now wot is ment. Get a life.[/p][/quote]It wasn't being pedantic, it was a light quip as in this instance it made a big difference to the meaning of what was written. This is something that people with an ounce of intelligence would have understood. acjy1985

3:09pm Wed 13 Jun 12

hm1 says...

The duration of these particular works does seem to be a little peculiar. I know the charity shops on the high street are seeing less donations and less sales too....not what we need.
The duration of these particular works does seem to be a little peculiar. I know the charity shops on the high street are seeing less donations and less sales too....not what we need. hm1

4:44pm Wed 13 Jun 12

Slacker says...

I wonder if people would prefer the roadworks were not done and the street left tatty with holes. Not good either to have customers falling on the bad road.

He says that nobody at the council cares about the high street but clearly that is not true, work is going on.
I wonder if people would prefer the roadworks were not done and the street left tatty with holes. Not good either to have customers falling on the bad road. He says that nobody at the council cares about the high street but clearly that is not true, work is going on. Slacker

4:57pm Wed 13 Jun 12

miccles says...

What is it with these councils that they waste money on "hair brained schemes".

They spent money on putting those bollards in place outside Primark, they have now been dug up and gone.

They spent money on the fountains in Frogmore, they have now been filled in and forgotten about.
What is it with these councils that they waste money on "hair brained schemes". They spent money on putting those bollards in place outside Primark, they have now been dug up and gone. They spent money on the fountains in Frogmore, they have now been filled in and forgotten about. miccles

6:06pm Wed 13 Jun 12

hm1 says...

I don't think anyone is saying these roadworks don't need to be done (unlike other recent stories) but just it has been going on for months.....
I don't think anyone is saying these roadworks don't need to be done (unlike other recent stories) but just it has been going on for months..... hm1

2:03pm Thu 14 Jun 12

townraider says...

From what i can see the councils are killing our town. They outsource to contractors and blame everyone else when it goes wrong-- This happens at both BCC and WDC council----whether its Tetts Tories or Collingwoods cronies!!
From what i can see the councils are killing our town. They outsource to contractors and blame everyone else when it goes wrong-- This happens at both BCC and WDC council----whether its Tetts Tories or Collingwoods cronies!! townraider

2:49pm Thu 14 Jun 12

sai-diva says...

The standard of the work done by these contractors is appaling. The high street was re vamped not so long ago, and the market was disrupted then. Temporary repairs become permanent, cobbles are replaced with tarmac, the surface outside of primark was deemed 'unsuitable' for buses. Didn't they see that one coming. Why can't our councillors get some kind of guarantee out of the contractors,as one would in' real life'. Perhaps it's because they aren't spending their own money and have a cash cow in the form of us ratepayers to fund their foolish projects and mistakes.They know that they will get away with it as being a councilor is a job for life in this area.
I know this gentleman, and he has seen the effects that the badly laid paving has had, he's had to pick up more than his fair share of people who have tripped over.It's partially down to him that the problem was noticed by the powers that be, he shouldn't have to see his business suffer.
The standard of the work done by these contractors is appaling. The high street was re vamped not so long ago, and the market was disrupted then. Temporary repairs become permanent, cobbles are replaced with tarmac, the surface outside of primark was deemed 'unsuitable' for buses. Didn't they see that one coming. Why can't our councillors get some kind of guarantee out of the contractors,as one would in' real life'. Perhaps it's because they aren't spending their own money and have a cash cow in the form of us ratepayers to fund their foolish projects and mistakes.They know that they will get away with it as being a councilor is a job for life in this area. I know this gentleman, and he has seen the effects that the badly laid paving has had, he's had to pick up more than his fair share of people who have tripped over.It's partially down to him that the problem was noticed by the powers that be, he shouldn't have to see his business suffer. sai-diva

7:47pm Sun 17 Jun 12

chiz1969 says...

It's not roadworks they're making the holes for the giant coffin nails to hold the lid down for when the councils finished of killing your town.....
It's not roadworks they're making the holes for the giant coffin nails to hold the lid down for when the councils finished of killing your town..... chiz1969

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