TRADERS on a busy high street badly affected by disruption from improvement works, have said they are “bitterly disappointed” by a council decision to offer them no further aid.

Epping Forest District Council has now finished work on the enhancement scheme for The Broadway, in Loughton, but earlier this year road closures caused misery for traders.

The council's cabinet was asked to look at possible compensation or rent deferment for shopkeepers, but councillors baulked at the potential £156,219 bill.

Finance portfolio holder Cllr Chris Whitbread said: “We are hopeful that things are improving, and obviously we as a council have already taken action to help shopkeepers where we can.

“Looking at this deferment scheme the cost is quite considerable. My personal view is this deferment scheme isn't the right way forward.”

Cllr Mary Sartin said: “As someone with a background in small shopkeeping I would definitely feel a deferment scheme is not the way forward. It allows a period of time when you're not sending out money but at the end of the day you've still got to spend that money when you're asked to do it.”

Loughton councillors Rose Brookes, and David Wixley pleaded with the cabinet to offer at least some extra resources to struggling traders, but a near unanimous motion was passed to offer no increased support with only Cllr Dave Stallan voting against.

Chairman of Loughton Broadway Town Centre Partnership Dave Stannard told The Guardian: “We are bitterly disappointed to be ignored. I would urge our local councillors to call this in.

“It's obvious to all of our traders they have lost money. The council on one hand has done a marvellous job, but on the other hand some traders are just hanging on. They have lost money and the council could be more magnanimous. They own the Broadway so I was hoping they'd be more lenient.”