Traders furious as cash claims are rejected

Traders hit by roadworks in a Black Country high street are furious after their claims for thousands of pounds in compensation were rejected.

Some businesses in Sedgley saw profits dip by up to 30 per cent during the works and wanted a payout from National Grid.

But firms have now been told they will not get any money back as the losses suffered were not a big enough proportion of annual turnover.

The six-week long gas main replacement scheme last summer caused long traffic jams and led to people avoiding the high street.

Daniel Price, owner of the BD Price Bike Shop in High Holborn, asked for £1,400 to be paid back.

Three other traders in the Concord Centre looked for similar amounts, while the Co-operative submitted a claim for £5,000. All have been refused.

Mr Price said a letter from National Grid explained that, as the losses were not five per cent of the traders' annual turnover, the claim had been rejected.

Mr Price said: "This was really an impossible situation for us from the start.

"Five per cent of annual turnover is a large amount — they never told us about this in the first place.

"They told us they were willing to look at all applications but I don't think we ever stood a chance." Mr Price said business had taken months to pick up after the works as customers continued to avoid the village even though the queues had cleared.

The original £1 million scheme was carried out during the six-week school summer holiday last year.

It forced the closure of sections of Sedgley High Street at its junction with Bilston Street. One lane was closed in Dudley Street heading out of Sedgley.

Allan Evans, director of Gould's Electrical in Bilston Street, Sedgley, said he estimated he had lost more than £1,000 but did not apply for compensation.

National Grid spokeswoman Michelle Smedley, said they could not comment on individual claims. National Grid had previously said the work had been "a short-term inconvenience for a long-term benefit", and it was essential to replace the gas mains.