South Wales Evening Post - 9 May 2007
City traders are suing Swansea Council over the disruption caused by months of roadworks on The Kingsway.
Work has ripped up the busy city artery to create a new one-way system through the centre and to accommodate the planned new bendy bus.
Angry traders complained that they were not kept informed about the works, and that it damaged their trade. It is not known exactly who or how many companies are gearing up for action. But they want compensation.
Brian Brown, whose hairdressing salon in Belle Vue Way was one of those businesses affected, said some traders were taking their fight to the courts.
He said: "It is still all happening at the moment, but I believe some of the traders are taking action.
"I am not myself because I can't take that on financially and I can't afford it. It is a bit of a gamble."
The work to introduce the new city centre one way system and to improve pavements began last summer and lasted until Christmas when contractors broke off for the busy festive period.
Work resumed in February and was expected to take around 16 weeks.
Businesses in and around The Kingsway say trade was hit heavily by the works and the dust and disruption caused.
Mr Brown said that his business was left without electricity and telephones on a number of days and that the council and contractors pointed the finger at one another.
He said that even though the work started 11 months ago businesses were still feeling the effects.
He said: "I think a lot of the traders I have spoken to say that it has never been the same for us since they did it.
"It looks better but we certainly haven't got the trade back.
"I think we're all feeling the same.
"It wasn't tremendously busy before but we used to have a bit more flow through of people."
Mr Brown said that traders were now hoping that the recent string of investment in the city centre will help balance the books.
He said: "We are relying on the new David Evans building, hoping that will bring some people back."
Mr Brown said: "I think the only good point was that the council did reduce our rates to 50 per cent for that time.
"We wanted no rates for that period because we lost so much money.
"When they are doing works in another part of the town traders should be better informed."
Another Kingsway trader added: "This scheme has cost people dearly and they want recompense for that."
A Swansea Council spokesman said the authority had spent £3.5m on the works in The Kingsway, including £1m for improving footways, pedestrian access and street furniture.
He said: "This work has been praised by traders in the area for improving the look of the area and for improving traffic flow.
"The council has received a very small number of claims in relation to the improvement works in The Kingsway."
The spokesman added: "The authority is denying liability. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."
KINGSWAY - THE STORY SO FAR
Kingsway is one of the city's busiest roads.
So when roadworks arrived there last summer, drivers and businesses were far from happy.
Here is how the story unfolded.
June, 2006
Store bosses in Belle Vue Way claim they have been cut off by the works.
The Belle Vue Way traders vow to withhold their rates, claiming they were not consulted properly over the work.
July, 2006
Belle Vue Way store JT Morgan offers customers cut-price parking to encourage them not to abandon the area.
Traders told they could be in line for a cash rebate.
The Assembly's transport minister, Andrew Davies, raps Swansea Council, labelling the way it has handled the city centre roadworks as "woeful''.
Shoppers are avoiding Kingsway because they are worried about their safety.
September, 2006
Council announces Kingsway work will stop in November so it does not clash with the Christmas rush.
Independent traders launch Independents Day to encourage people to use them or lose them.
October, 2006
Butcher Enzo Sauro says the Kingsway roadworks have forced him to shut up his Cig Calon Cymru Cyf shop.
Traders badly hit by the roadworks are told they will have their rates cut.
The misery is piled on as a power cut plunges businesses into darkness.
January, 2007
Council bosses pledge to keep disruption to a minimum as they prepare to restart work on The Kingsway.
May, 2007
Traders announce they are suing Swansea Council over the months of disruption caused by the Kingsway roadworks.
