Greater Cambridge Partnership roadworks ‘worse than Covid’ for businesses

Shops on a key route undergoing a Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) improvement scheme say they have lost tens of thousands of pounds as a result of more than a year of roadworks – and the financial impact on them has been worse than Covid.

The businesses on Milton Road in Cambridge have seen a dramatic drop in custom after roadworks, high fencing and the removal of parking bays made it difficult for customers to see or visit their shops.

One shopkeeper explained through tears how she had gone without a salary so she could pay her employees after losing more than £70,000 – and said that her business was on the edge of closure, when it had previously been successful.

The traders added while it was possible to claim compensation during the Covid pandemic, the GCP has not given any financial help during the scheme.

Their comments came as the GCP celebrated the completion of works at Mitcham’s Corner – a key milestone in the multi-million pound Milton Road project, which is designed to provide faster, safer and more reliable bus and active travel journeys between Cambridge and communities to the north of the city.

Tina Michalak is the owner of Pod Orlem Polish grocery shop in a parade at Mitcham’s Corner on Milton Road.

She told the Cambridge Independent: “When we first heard about the roadworks we didn’t think it would be a big deal, but it has ruined our business – the effect was worse than Covid.

“During the first year of the works we lost a massive part of our customer base due to the lack of parking. This was the main problem because, obviously, if people don’t have anywhere to stop, they just pass by and they go somewhere else.

“People used to do their weekly food shop with us and park outside so they could load up their bags, but when our parking space was taken away the only people who came to the shop were on bikes. Of course they don’t buy as much – usually just one bag of shopping, so we lost huge amounts of money – between £70,000 and £90,000.

“At one point the street and parking bay were totally fenced up. Our shop was fenced up – not even visible to customers. Sometimes it was also blocked with machinery and the road in front was dug up.

“Delivery vans would pull up and then drive away again because they couldn’t park outside. They would drive off back to Lincoln with our stock and frequently we would have empty shelves as a result. We used to have a delivery bay in front of the shop but that hasn’t been replaced. Instead there is a bus lane now.

“The people who stopped coming have not come back. They have changed their habits and where they shop. So many were put off ever driving down Milton Road again. Now we are struggling to pay our bills and I don’t know if we can stay open. Many months I have to work for free so I can pay wages.”

And she claimed: “The GCP couldn’t care less about us. We’ve tried to talk to them about some compensation so that we will keep our business going until the roadworks finish. They say they haven’t got any money for compensation and our claim is not valid because these roadworks were planned.

“But they should have planned some pot of money to support us during those roadworks because it has destroyed people’s businesses. Even if they didn’t want to give us money they should have kept the parking spaces open. I feel quite disgusted.”

The roadworks project, which the GCP said would cost £24million and take two years to complete, includes new off-road cycle lanes on both sides, alongside pedestrian paths. Junctions between the Cambridge Science Park and Mitcham’s Corner have been changed to make it easier for cyclists to have a continuous route towards the city. Construction is expected to finish later this year.

A new CYCLOPS junction at King’s Hedges is nearing completion, with the final surfacing and lining of the road to be carried out before it becomes fully operational later this summer.

Robin Standring owns garden centre Cam Home & Garden on Milton Road, in the parade of shops near the Arbury Road junction.

He explained that he had been communicating with a “loose association” of business on the street, all of whom had suffered.

Robin said: “We heard the GCP were having an event to celebrate how wonderful the new roadworks are. I just want to give the other side of the story. They put barriers up outside our business in December and closed all the parking bays outside. Keep in mind I’ve been negotiating with them about these works since 2019. I asked them not to work in April, May and June. That’s our busiest time of year – that’s gardening for you. Those months are when we make all our money and that tides us over through the year. So they overran and worked throughout April, May and June and only finished in early July, meaning our biggest selling period has gone.

“Tina’s shop had these barriers up for over a year. We only had it for seven months. But that was enough. Three months was a reasonable time to do that amount of work, but when that time was doubled no one really seemed to care. There was no urgency. I’m still doing the maths on how much we have lost but it’s substantial – in the region of £30,000.

“This was worse for us than Covid, because during Covid you got government support. We have had nothing. The GCP could have considered compensation. Instead, they just said ‘Well, if you want compensation, you have to sue’.”

Cllr Elisa Meschini, chair of the GCP, was joined by ward councillors on Thursday last week to mark the completion of works at Mitcham’s Corner – where Tina’s shop is situated – which they said was “a key milestone in the GCP’s Milton Road project”.

The GCP said the new footways, cycleways and pedestrian crossings have been delivered alongside new cycle parking “to make it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle to the shops and businesses in Mitcham’s Corner”.

Peter Blake, interim director of the GCP, said: “We understand the construction of the Milton Road project has caused disruption for people who live and travel along the road, as well as businesses in the area, and we would like to thank them all for their patience and assistance while this work has been carried out.

“We have spoken to businesses and taken steps to try to mitigate the impact of the work wherever possible. This has included providing regular updates on the work that is being carried out, clear signage and working alongside businesses to ensure we can accommodate their deliveries.

“We have also adapted to support businesses – such as changing the construction fencing to provide greater visibility to shopfronts and installing extra cycle parking at Mitcham’s Corner and Arbury Road to enable more people to walk and cycle to the shops there. We will also be adding disabled parking bays to further support businesses and people visiting the area.

“All major works will largely be complete by the end of September to provide safer and better journeys for all road users, which will make it easier for people to visit the businesses along Milton Road, as well as to travel to work, school or to meet their friends in the city.”