Ipswich: Restaurant owner fears compensation over lost business may come too late
BY MATT BUNN
Sunday, October 7, 2012
10:44 PM
A TOWN centre trader today claimed the compensation offered for business lost during major gas works, may not stop him from going under.
Amir Uddin, director of a Passage to India, said his restaurant has already lost £30,000 since work was started by National Grid five months ago to replace 100-year-old gas mains in Fore Street, Orwell Place, Eagle Street and Upper Orwell Street.
But despite assurances from National Grid bosses that businesses affected by the work should be in line for compensation, Mr Uddin still has a bleak outlook for his restaurant’s future.
He said: “If they (National Grid) can sort all this out before December then we have a little bit of a prospect, but if it’s past that, then I am gone.
“There is no movement on this street. Before it was lovely but now it’s a ghost street.”
A meeting is due to take place this morning between traders and councillors as solutions are sought to help the struggling businesses.
MP for Ipswich, Ben Gummer, said up until now he has been appalled at the lack of help traders have had, and added: “National Grid has taken far longer than it should have taken to complete this work.”
A spokesman for the borough council admitted councillors are ‘not happy’ with the how long the work is taking. He added: “We are working to agree deferred payment plans with those businesses badly affected by the National Grid work and we are not requiring them to pay their business rates now. We do not set business rates – we collect them on behalf of the government.
“And when it comes to compensation, we believe it is National Grid which should be paying for that – and quickly – not the council taxpayers of Ipswich.”
National Grid says it has been talking with affected traders and they will be in line for compensation.
A spokeswoman said: “We have been keeping the traders’ informed of the compensation scheme and they have all been given compensation packs and forms to complete.
“Once we have got those in we can start looking at them. They are dealt with on a case by case basis.”
n Have you been affected by the works? Send an e-mail to starletters@archant.co.uk
Latest News See all
- Shotley: Former treasurer of HMS Ganges group faces court
- Ipswich: Charity shop forced to close due to break-in
- Video: Car drives into Tesco Express in Bury St Edmunds
- Update: Motorcyclist killed in Fressingfield crash named as Charlie Cockett, 25
- Suffolk/Essex: Schmallenberg vaccine available to farmers this summer
More news
- Shotley: Former treasurer of HMS Ganges group faces court
- Ipswich: Charity shop forced to close due to break-in
- Video: Car drives into Tesco Express in Bury St Edmunds
- Update: Motorcyclist killed in Fressingfield crash named as Charlie Cockett, 25
- Suffolk/Essex: Schmallenberg vaccine available to farmers this summer
- Poll: Tourists flock to Ipswich during busy summer of cultural events
- Ipswich: Two men who robbed security guard at the Thrasher pub are given jail sentences totalling nearly 10 years
- Ipswich: Motorist led police on a two-mile 70mph car chase in Ipswich, court hears
- Gallery: Suffolk exhibitors in full colour at Chelsea Flower Show
- Felixstowe: Family turning baby’s cystic fibrosis diagnosis into a force for good
Suffolk Show
Education
Summer
Crime Week
Campaign
Festivals
Star Savers
Motoring
Oldest English Town
I Love Ipswich
Mr. Ipswich
James Marston
Digital edition
Read today's paper online now
Send us a story
iwitness24 Your news is our news Facebook Like your local paper Twitter Join the conversation Ipswich Borough CouncilADVERTISEMENT
7 comments
i deliver hot food around the town , and due to all the anti car measures and road works , im losing customers , a journey that used to take 30 mins can now take an hour , will i get compensation for lost trade ? i don't think so , i will be out of work when the buisiness close down.
Report this comment
gilson
Monday, October 8, 2012
@england1770 - please close the door on the way out. If you hate ipswich so much move to Norwich and stop commenting on articles about Ipswich. Ipswich is a great place with many thriving businesses... If you don't like it, move somewhere else and take your moaning with you!
Report this comment
Scott Brock
Monday, October 8, 2012
Sounds like someone wants to free lunch! Businesses suffer disruption for all sorts of reasons. This maintenance work was planned ages ago and local business and householders were informed. It is not beyond the wit of a business owner to use all methods to advice new and old customers alike that the business is still operational - heard of a web site, Twitter, Facebook and other social networking methods? Unbelievable that someone demands compensation which costs everyone as we are all customers of the National Grid one way or another.
Report this comment
Steve Blake
Monday, October 8, 2012
Why would any one want to run a business, let alone want to open a new one in Ipswich. There are so many better run towns in which to trade. Ipswich is a second or third rate town except the councils and Ipswich Central seem to think we are a fantastic place to visit. Wake up and do it soon!
Report this comment
england1770
Monday, October 8, 2012
As usual it looks like any compensation will be paid too late - couldn't they have predicted that this might happen and made sure arrangements were in place so that compensation could have been paid sooner?
Report this comment
Mr Grumpy
Monday, October 8, 2012
You should have paid for a business interuption insurance policy Mr Udin just like the rest of the businesses didn't !!
Report this comment
the opinion man
Monday, October 8, 2012
I'm sure Amir Uddin and the other people wanting compensation would also be creating if repair works wasn't carried out and the 100 yr old gas mains blew, its a fact of life everybody is struggling finacialy but these essential works have to be carried out like it or not as for wanting compensation i find it unbelievable, all the shops could of put signs out stating were they are and that they are still open, there are to many people wanting compensation for silly things now a days
Report this comment
Martin Bignell
Monday, October 8, 2012