‘WE’VE BEEN CHUCKING LOTS OF OATCAKES AWAY’
Shop plagued by roadworks losing money
AN oatcake shop is losing thousands of pounds – due to ‘nightmare’ roadworks. Milton Oatcake Shop has been affected by the scheme since September.
The business has now secured the support of Stokeon-trent Central MP Jo Gideon and ward councillor Dave Evans who are both putting pressure on utility firm Western Power which is carrying out the works. But the roadworks – on Bagnall Road – still remain.
Oatcake shop owner Claire Murphy, aged 55, said: “It has just been a nightmare for us since September. We’ve contacted Western Power and they have said all they can do is apologise – but that doesn’t pay our wages.
“At one point they had traffic lights right outside the shop and traffic lights down the road. If people are not from this area they won’t know how to get around the roadworks.
“We did ask them to put a sign out to say ‘businesses open as usual’ but then they put it in the wrong place. We’ve had no say at all.
“We are down on trade every week, we’ve been chucking a lot of oatcakes away. Some weeks it hasn’t been worth opening. They’re getting their wages – they don’t care if it goes on longer.
“We have tried doing deliveries, but then you end up sitting in traffic for ages. We are losing thousands of pounds. People have called the shop to ask if the road is open. Since September we have had almost no trade – it’s just getting worse and worse.”
Josephine Meakin, aged 79, of Leek Road, Milton, has lived in the village for the past 52 years.
She said: “There are roadworks all over Milton. They have affected the oatcake shop.
“Bagnall Norton Cricket Club has also lost a lot of business, as has the whole village. I am fed up with it. It is the dust. My window cleaner hasn’t been for six weeks. He would just be wasting his time.”
Sue Bates, aged 67, added: “I feel sorry for the oatcake shop because they do beautiful oatcakes.”
A Western Power spokesman said: “The junction of Baddeley Green Lane and Bagnall Road has been closed on safety grounds to allow engineering teams to continue with their work to lay new electricity cable.
“When the team has crossed the junction, the route will be reopened. Work to lay the new electricity cable at Bagnall Road is progressing well.”