Trader set to quit over roadworks

The roadworks, to replace gas mains, began on January 24 and are due to finish on June 24, by which time workmen will have moved out of Sackville Road and into nearby Wickham Avenue.

On February 23 this year Hayley, 44, suffered a stroke which left her needing use of a walking stick and some memory loss.

She said: “My doctor told me it was brought on by the stress of these roadworks and the devastating impact they have had on my business.”

Customers have been unable to park outside The Cat’s Whiskers and Hayley believes many will have gone elsewhere, never to return.

This loss of trade has badly affected takings yet she says she is still expected to continue paying business rates as if nothing had happened.

She said: “I’m at the end of my tether over this. It’s cost me my health and now looks as if it’s going to cost me the business that’s been built up over the past four years.

“Nobody seems bothered about getting on with the job or compensating businesses like mine that have seen their customers dwindle.”

The Bexhill Observer highlighted the issue last month and has carried several letters about it, including correspondence from Hayley herself.

A spokeswoman for Scottish and Southern Energy, parent group of Southern Gas Network which is carrying out the multi-million pound project, said: “We complete our planned works within timescales agreed with local authorities.

“We are committed to working with the police and local authorities to plan our work so that it causes minimum disruption to residents, road users, businesses and traders.”