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Popular East Cowes Businesses 'Massively' Impacted By Island Roads Works

Business owner Adam standing in Garage Inc - which is on the right as you walk down York Avenue...

Island Road works in East Cowes have been described as a "shambles" by business owners who have "suffered massively" and been left counting the costs.

EXCLUSIVE... 

Garage Inc, ComiCoffee and the Barber’s have not only suffered because of the pandemic but two days after the lockdown was lifted (and they could take walk-ins) Island Roads started digging up York Avenue.

As previously reported by Isle of Wight Radio, the roadworks - that have been going on since March - have been causing chaos - with residents calling them an ‘absolute joke’. 

Concerns have been raised by locals about ferry traffic on residential roads causing houses to 'shake', 'inadequate' diversions, a lack of parking and cones obstructing traffic.

Photo by Jenny Jacobs posted on Facebook of lorries using the allocated diversions...

The owner of ComiCoffee Matt Sprooles, told Isle of Wight Radio they have been “losing customers on a daily basis” because of the work carried out by Island Roads.

Matt added that he ‘had no letter’ through his door prior to the works starting on May 19.

He says customers have complained about the eyesore, the noise and ‘poor signage’ means people don’t know how to get to them.

The view from outside ComiCoffee and Garage Inc.

Matt spoke exclusively to Isle of Wight Radio, he said:

“We took it upon ourselves to do our own driving video to show people they can still access us from the Osborne area but we had to drive through four road closed blockage signs to access us - I wouldn’t drive through four normally and expect to get to businesses and we communicated that with Island Roads several weeks ago”.

“If you are coming from the Floating Bridge all you can see is diggers and six foot festival high fencing so it doesn’t look like it’s accessible...If you drive down York Avenue from Osborne house you won’t get through unless you know the area well. The redirection signs are ineffective.”

Matt added:

“The whole thing is a shambles...We didn’t receive anything at ComiCoffee through our door about the work before they started...I don’t know why work couldn’t have been planned a bit better and done in lockdown?”

Now, the small independent businesses have erected their own signs to show Islanders they are open. 

The Barber’s has suffered losses of 90 per cent and ComiCoffe 77 per cent - with some staff having their hours cut and others having to re-train in other departments.

The owner of Garage Inc, who met his wife at the business 21 years ago when he was valeting cars there, said the place has a special place in his heart.

Experienced tattooist Adam says he had a fantastic community response when they first opened a couple of years ago but things have been difficult recently.

Inside the Barber Shop

He says the company relies on people seeing the Garage Inc image and ferry traffic driving past and walking in.

Adam added that since Island Roads started the roadworks, combined with a week of Wightfibre works, people were “struggling” to find the businesses.

Heading up York Avenue from the Floating Bridge towards Garage Inc and ComiCoffee

Heading down York Avenue from Osborne, Grage Inc and Comicoffee are on the right-hand side.

A spokesperson for Island Roads said:

'The resurfacing element is due to start next Thursday for six working nights (split onto two sections) under a 24-hr road closure.'

It’s not known if Island Roads will pay out compensation to the businesses affected.

As previously reported, Southern Water has been forced to pay thousands to businesses affected in Appley because of a sinkhole.

Scroll through pictures of inside Gargae Inc below.

 

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