Shops forced to close ponder compo claims
TEMPERS flared and businesses lost out big time in Boyanup last week as the main road was excavated and resurfaced.
Some businesses are now looking at possible compensation for loss of income.
At times traffic was banked up for two kilometres from four different directions.
Although warning signs the previous week had been flashing the words “expect delays”, few people realised that meant delays of up to 20 minutes at a time.
Farmco manager Cam Parsons said he recognised the need for road repairs but it was disappointing vehicles had such great difficulty accessing his garage forecourt to refuel. “With so few customers last week our trade just halved,” he said. “I had to send employees home. For four hours on Sunday morning they completely blocked off our forecourt and fuel pumps”.
The Boyanup General Store reported similar frustration.
No parking was allowed in the street and the shop’s car park was blocked off.
Congested traffic was at a standstill for long periods because the road had been blocked off at the Bridge Street entrance.
“Our business has suffered a huge downturn this past week,” said business partner Jackie Newey.
“On Monday and Tuesday the road crew closed our car park, which virtually killed our fast food trade.
“With traffic cones blocking roads and traffic controllers employed at the other end of town, it was just impossible for vehicles to get close to the store”, she said.
Taking children to Boyanup Primary School also presented challenges and some parents were forced to take alternative routes.
Leanne Hotter was upset after dropping her children off at the school 10 minutes late.
“It took me almost 15 minutes to get into the garage to get fuelled up yesterday and now today I’m caught up in another traffic jam”, she protested.
The Boyanup Bakery optimistically stayed open some days until lunchtime. But with traffic unable to park or even stop in the main street, it was just not worth remaining open.
Local businesspeople said they had been told the situation would be even worse on Friday, May 28. But yesterday a note appeared in the general store’s window warning of more disruption from May 17 to 21.
Main Roads Department South West operations director Brett Belstead said the work was completed, except for asphalting, some of which would be carried out on May 28. But it was too late in the season to get all of it done and it would have to be finished later. “We had to repair the road pavement and that meant digging it up and replacing it.” It was impossible to leave the road open when it had to be dug up to half a metre deep. The work was done as quickly as possible, from Friday to Wednesday. “We worked on the weekend to minimise disruption,” he said. The resurfacing was a “once in 30 or 40 years” event.
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