Owner of The Friendly Loaf in Nowton, near Bury St Edmunds, hits out after A134 Sicklesmere Road roundabout developer declines to pay compensation

A bakery owner has spoken of his disgust at being denied compensation over roadworks which left him 'thousands of pounds’ out of pocket.

Mark Proctor, who runs the Friendly Loaf bakery in Low Green, Nowton, previously feared closure due to disruption from the project on the A134 Sicklesmere Road in Bury St Edmunds.

As work progresses on the roundabout for the Abbots Vale estate, Mr Proctor said he is ‘absolutely disgusted’ that developers Hopkins Homes have declined to offer compensation to affected businesses — despite a plea from West Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council leaders.

The bakery owner said the closures have cost him at least £1,000 a week in lost income since work began on March 7.

“They shouldn’t be able to get away with this,” he said. “It’s just outrageous. There was no pre-warning, no consultation, nothing.

“They’ve hammered my business. And to turn around and wash their hands of it, its not good enough and I am absolutely disgusted.”

Cllr Cliff Waterman, leader of West Suffolk Council, and Cllr Matthew Hicks, leader of Suffolk County Council, wrote a letter to Hopkins Homes suggesting they offer goodwill payments to impacted businesses.

However, Hopkins Homes declined as they said affected businesses should claim through their own business interruption insurance and compensation matters were within the county council’s remit.

A spokesperson said they ‘fully recognise the disruption’ and highlighted extra contributions of £455,000 to limit closures and £40,000 for signage.

They said: “We have maintained ongoing dialogue with local businesses, parish councils and residents through consultation meetings, direct communications and our dedicated community liaison website.

“While we understand and appreciate the concerns raised by Suffolk County Council and West Suffolk Council, it is important to note that these works are being delivered in accordance with planning obligations and under the authority of Suffolk Highways.

“As contractors operating under a Section 278 agreement, compensation matters fall within Suffolk County Council’s remit.”

Low Green recently reopened as the roundabout project hit its halfway point after the road and Rushbrooke Lane were restricted to access-only to prevent rat-running.

With further weekend closures scheduled, April 25 to 28 and May 2 to 5, Mr Proctor fears the worst is yet to come as Hopkins Homes and Denbury Homes push ahead with plans for a relief road to the A14.

He said: “My insurance company, and most companies I’m aware of, do not cover road closures like this.

“They will cover emergency closures like for burst water mains or something like that, but not being closed for weeks on end — that’s just nonsensical.

“This really falls onto the county council too — you can’t just shut a road and put someone’s business in jeopardy like this. It’s not right.

“If they’re going to keep shutting the road with whatever’s next, we need to be compensated.

“In the meantime, we just want to thank the community for supporting us. With Easter coming up, its a really busy time for our business, so I’m just glad the road is going to be open this weekend.”

Once the roundabout is finished, the developers plan to build a relief road linking the A134 to Rougham Hill and carry out upgrades at the Southgate Green roundabout.

However, a proposal by Hopkins Homes and Denbury Homes to raise the number of homes to be occupied before completing the relief road and roundabout — up from 200 to 375 homes and 550 to 675 respectively — was withdrawn on March 19.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Highways said: “Successive governments have taken the view that roadworks as a necessity to maintain roads and deliver essential infrastructure are a part of life that enables everything to function.

“Therefore it has been made clear that no-one is entitled to compensation for loss of business during roadworks – businesses are strongly recommended to take out appropriate insurance cover.”