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Lifeline thrown to Christchurch traders hit by roadworks

5:00pm Tuesday 9th February 2010


TRADERS suffering from the closure of Bridge Street, Christchurch, are being offered a helping hand to claim compensation for loss of business.

Christchurch council says it will be writing to all the businesses in the area to tell them about the compensation scheme being offered by Southern Gas Networks.

With takings at many businesses in the town down on usual figures the council is also offering advice on a business rate reduction, which could be claimed from the valuation office.

Although access to businesses is still available, many traders have been hit hard by customers and shoppers keeping away from the town to avoid the perceived traffic problems.

But traders say that despite one of the main routes into the town being closed, traffic build-up through the High Street has not proved too problematic and are asking local people not to avoid the town for this reason.

Daren Williamson, owner of Crickle Wood shop in the High Street, said: “The road closure has put extra pressure on us, especially as we are dealing with the increase in business rates.

“January trading is always tough but it has had an effect on footfall in the town. I think the main problem has come from the buses not stopping in the town centre.

“With fewer people in the town, there are fewer people through the doors. We’ve had to focus our energy on other initiatives such as our website to ensure we’re not hit too badly.”

Terry Atkinson, secretary of Christchurch Chamber of Trade, added: “It has been tough for some of the businesses, especially the second and third week of the works.

“But now, with the road cleared slightly people can see that they can still get to places like La Mammas and Mostyns so the pressure has eased slightly.

“There are definitely some lessons to be learned for the future though.”


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Your Say YourEcho

fartington, Wick says...
6:22pm Tue 9 Feb 10

One of the problems not addressed is the problem of getting out of the High Street and Sopers Lane onto Fountain Roundabout. The continuous traffic flow from the by-pass is no longer regularly broken by the traffic lights in the bus lane.
I must admit this is one of the main factors I think about before coming into the town.....how long will it take me to get back out !
Could the bus lane traffic lights not be temporarily re-programmed to break up the by-pass traffic for a few seconds every couple of minutes or so ?

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dancingdog, Bournemouth says...
6:44pm Tue 9 Feb 10

Brilliant idea!

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MJD, HAMWORTHY says...
7:16pm Tue 9 Feb 10

No. That's to simple.

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fartington, Wick says...
8:01pm Tue 9 Feb 10

ok,MJD, HAMWORTHY, destructive criticism not accepted....what is your positive input ?

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rainbowkisses, Bournemouth says...
10:00pm Tue 9 Feb 10

I think MJD meant the solution is to simple. The Council can't do simple, they have to complicated everything.

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sprint, says...
8:20am Wed 10 Feb 10

The traffic flow from the bypass may not be broken by the traffic lights, but there are normally gaps big enough to get onto the roundabout. I think personnaly, as there is no congestion down the bypass at the moment, it shows how BAD for congetion those lights are. All local authorities claim that buses reduce congestion, but they certainly don't in Christchurch.

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GB916, christchurch says...
10:22am Wed 10 Feb 10

fartington wrote:
One of the problems not addressed is the problem of getting out of the High Street and Sopers Lane onto Fountain Roundabout. The continuous traffic flow from the by-pass is no longer regularly broken by the traffic lights in the bus lane.
I must admit this is one of the main factors I think about before coming into the town.....how long will it take me to get back out !
Could the bus lane traffic lights not be temporarily re-programmed to break up the by-pass traffic for a few seconds every couple of minutes or so ?
Just to correct you,the lights were changed not long after the road works started,the council sorted this,they are now timed so that the stop the traffic from the bypass at regular intervals to allow traffic to emerge from the high street,you must have missed that info,which was posted on the echo website sometime ago,so now you can come to Christchurch to shop if you so require

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Fightingback, christchurch says...
4:10pm Wed 10 Feb 10

I walked past the repaired bridge area the other day - not a workman in sight!

So no doubt the lack of trade for shops will be much longer than it need be.

Typical Christchurch Council buffoons!

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Inner Sanctum, Poole says...
1:42pm Thu 18 Feb 10

As I understand from a friend in Poole high street, (done last year, up to Easter) the compensation offered from the gas company is based on the difference between the last year's trading and this years.

We are suffering in Old Poole as well. Banks don't help, Council will also be retro-active.

If you want these businesses to stay, at least GO there, even if you don't buy.

To the traders, hang on and good luck!

To the Council, can you do something to promote the area once the work is done?

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BUSINESSES SUFFERING: Bridge Street and Castle Street are closed to traffic for bridge repairs and other work BUSINESSES SUFFERING: Bridge Street and Castle Street are closed to traffic for bridge repairs and other work


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