Fears for Petworth businesses after road closure

Pound Street has been closed while work is carried out by Southern Water, and is likely to remain closed for the next four weeks.

Jackie Tudor, chairman of the PBA, is keen to assure people that Petworth nevertheless remains open for business.

“We want to make people come back into the town,” she said, and added that because of the work it’s now ‘deserted’.

The PBA had to take responsibility to contact West Sussex County Council’s highways department to request signs be put up with diversions to the town centre.

“It really wasn’t down to us to be doing it,” she added.

She said it was unfortunate the work was taking place and driving people away from the town at the same time as the much-publicised Turner exhibition was on at Petworth House.

For more on the effect on Petworth businesses and reaction see next week’s Midhurst and Petworth Observer (February 14).