A campaign has been initiated to urge Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) to support local businesses affected by the road closures at California Crossroads, Finchampstead, Wokingham. William Brown, the founder of the campaign and a local resident, spoke with My Wokingham to discuss his motivations for starting the Change.org campaign, which aims to secure compensation for businesses suffering from trade losses due to road closures.
Campaign link Change.org
The redevelopment of California Crossroads in Finchampstead, which began on February 12, 2024, has significantly impacted local businesses. The construction work has greatly limited access to shops and businesses at the crossroads and in the nearby area.
Interestingly, no construction activity is observed during weekends.
With a project cost of £5.4 million, our investigation revealed that two of the four spurs are currently closed. Despite this, there was no visible work taking place over the weekend. If the project progresses as scheduled, the closure of the crossroads is expected to last until September.
Campaigner fears for businesses’ survival
William Brown emphasises that these businesses form the core of the community, offering essential services to Finchampstead residents, including the local Post Office. They urgently require assistance to navigate this change in circumstances that are out of their control. Despite the critical situation, WBC has not offered compensation to the shops for the business losses directly resulting from the Council’s decisions.
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He highlighted the dire consequences for residents if these services were to disappear permanently due to the downturn in trade. Therefore, it’s imperative to act now, urging WBC to reconsider its stance and compensate the businesses at California Crossroads. This could be through direct financial support or substantial rate reductions to mitigate the devastating impact on trade resulting from the redevelopment.
JATS Pharmacy is facing unsustainable losses.
In a conversation with My Wokingham, Mr. Jayesh Mistry, the owner of JATS Pharmacy, shared the challenges his business is encountering. Having operated for more than 30 years, the pharmacy is now at risk of closing due to a significant decline in revenue. Mr. Mistry revealed to My Wokingham, “In the last two weeks alone, I’ve experienced a loss of at least 75% in turnover, making it increasingly difficult to maintain my business.”
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Nine Mile Vets clients can’t access their hospital
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Emily from Nine Mile Veterinary Hospital highlighted that their primary concern has been the reduced access their clients are experiencing. She pointed out that particularly for some elderly clients with very ill pets, finding a way to reach the hospital has become an extremely stressful ordeal
Red Oak Stores & Bob’s Fish n Chips fear the future
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Reuben Miles-Brar, representing Londis Red Oak Stores & Bob Fish n Chips, shared that their revenue had plummeted by 50%. The pressing concern for them revolves around the survival of the business until September. He emphasized the need for compensation and improved communication from the council towards both businesses and residents. Furthermore, he pointed out that insufficient signage has left people unaware of how to access their services during the construction works.
Local councillor supports campaign
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Cllr Charles Margetts from Finchampstead North has called on residents to support the campaign aimed at aiding local businesses. He revealed that requests have been made to Wokingham Borough Council for compensation on multiple occasions, stressing the importance of such support to ensure these businesses can weather this challenging period. Despite these efforts, he claimed that the council has been unwilling to provide any form of assistance.
Change.org campaign
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If you would like to support the campaign please go to CHANGE.ORG
