Businesses in Highbridge are demanding compensation after four days of disruption caused by this week’s fire at the former Highbridge Hotel cost them thousands of pounds in lost trade.
The A38 in Highbridge finally re-opened on Saturday (April 26th) afternoon at 5pm, four days after it was initially closed due to a huge fire.
But traders in the centre of the town told Burnham-On-Sea.com they have seen their business sink by over 50% due to the closure of the road.
Arthur Dormer of Highbridge DIY (pictured) told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “My trade has been two thirds down on what I’d usually expect. It’s all due to the A38 closure and the continuing closure of the Walrow railway bridge. We’ve been in the middle of an island here.”
“I would definitely like to see compensation given to traders. I just can’t believe the whole town was blocked off with signs saying the town is closed when shops have been open for business as normal.”
Further down Market Street, Marstafa Aydenk of the Tasty Bitez take-away food shop said his business had also been hit hard by the closure.
“It’s been a very quiet week and we’re 50 per cent down on normal,” he told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
He agrees that compensation should be available to businesses affected by the closure.
Other businesses hit by the downturn include Veals Fishing Tackle, situated on the corner of Church Street and Market Street.
The shop’s Colin Lockyer said trade was 50 per cent down on normal, adding: “It’s ridiculous that the road was closed for so long – there definitely should be compensation.”
Meanwhile, the car park outside Highbridge’s Somerfield supermarket was virtually empty on Saturday – as pictured here.
And a spokesman confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Our trade has been hit, although it could have been a lot worse.”
Just one Highbridge business, The Coopers Arms public house, told us that its trade had not been affected.
Manager Marie Johnson said: “We’ve actually had a far busier week than normal, possibly because everyone is keen to come in and have a conversation about the fire!”
The whole matter is due to be further discussed further at a public meeting to be held at 5.30pm in Highbridge’s Community Hall on Thursday evening (May 1st).
The A38 was re-opened on Saturday afternoon after a new fence was put into place around the burnt-out former hotel.
This PCSO took away a mass of police tape which had been in place across the A38 outside the former Highbridge Hotel.
