A historic family butcher says it’s got beef with road works that are costing its business.
G Shearer and Son Butchers is based in Dam Gate in Holbeach which has been the subject of a two-month closure order.
It’s due to be closed for at least another month.
Work is being carried out to widen the road for a new housing development off Dam Gate being built by Seagate Homes.
“What’s most frustrating is that the developer provided ten days’ warning to us about this – something we find completely unacceptable,” said Alice Taylor, managing director at Shearers. “As a company directly affected by this, we’re seeing a clear impact on customer footfall, employees getting to work etc.
“We believe this situation raises important questions about how such developments are handled and the communication (or lack thereof) with the local community.”
Alice, a member of the family that has owned the business since the early 1900s, says they only received ten days’ notice of the planned three-month closure.
She also says footfall fell 25 per cent in April and the figure was looking worse for this month.
“The diversion is a ten-mile round trip and the signing for it was dreadful and it wasn’t replaced when signs blew over,” she said. “We have had people ringing us lost in Sutton St James and Tydd while trying to find us.
“We’ve gone out and purchased signs ourselves which has helped.
“We’ve also had a free delivery offer on, which has been well received, but all these have been at a cost to the business.
“They’ve also blocked the path in places so anyone looking to walk to us or use their mobility scooter has to go into the road.”
The business has received the support of Sandra Ball, the chair of Holbeach Parish Council, who says she’s taken the matter to South Holland MP Sir John Hayes.
“The shop has had to go to the extra expense to put up more signage re-directing people to their business and they have had lost revenue due to this,” she said. “I feel very strongly that we should be helping our local businesses and supporting them, as does Sir John.
“I have seen far too many close down through lack of help and support.”
Adam Murfet, of Seagate Homes, said the works had ‘mostly’ been requested by Lincolnshire County Council and couldn’t be carried out until a legal document was signed that didn’t happen until the end of March.
He added that the company had offered to put vouchers for the store in welcoming packs for those moving into new developments.
“We would absolutely not be able to keep the road open for health and safety reasons,” he said. “I do believe the new development of 188 homes (49 of which will be in phase one) will present a long term benefit to the business, and I would like to support that as much as possible.”
