Businesses lament ‘diabolical’ impact as SGN hints at possible early finish for gas replacement works on main route through Bashley

THERE are hopes for an early completion of major gas works that have shut a main route through Bashley as traders lamented their “diabolical” impact.

The A&T caught up with some of the businesses impacted by SGN’s closure of a stretch of the B3058 Bashley Common Road to replace a main as the project came to the end of its fourth week.

As reported, it has shut the road between the Rising Sun pub and the Ossemsley South Drive junction for works set to run from 6th January to 28th March.

Amid reports of good progress having been made so far, SGN suggested it could finish “ahead of schedule”.

Vowing they would survive, the businesses told how passing trade had suffered a major blow, with motorists unwilling to drive through and turn round.

Bashley Plant Centre owner Paul Follett previously branded the scheme a “kick in the teeth”. He said trade was “dead”.

Estimating an 80% footfall drop for the 60-year-old family-run business, he partly blamed the proliferation of road closure signs.

“You can get through, but this is putting people off,” Paul said.

“I didn’t think it would be as quiet as this. We can survive as I’ve not got all my eggs in one basket, but we are still taking a big hit.

“At least during Covid the government was helping small businesses, but this is terrible.”

Bashley Village Stores has seen an estimated 40% drop-off.

Dennis Sparks, who co-owns it with his wife Carol, told the A&T: “It’s diabolical. It’s hugely affected us.

“People are not going to come up this road to turn round and go back – it’s just not going to happen. We said that from the start and it’s proven to be the case.

“At the end of the day, the work’s got to be done. It’s just disappointing that it takes so long.”

Hoping trade will pick up in the run-up to Easter, he added: “I think we’ll be okay, but if there are any more nasty shocks in the future, I don’t think we will be.”

Debbie Loader, who co-directs Loaders Garage with husband Matt, estimated trade had halved.

She praised locals who took to social media to encourage others to keep using it.

“The outgoings on shop goods are definitely down, which we expected with passing trade not coming,” Debbie said.

“Most of the fresh stuff is sale or return, and what we don’t sell they don’t charge us for, so we’re quite lucky.

“Obviously, we’d like more business, but we’ve got the rest of the year to recoup our losses.”

But renowned motorcycling legend Sammy Miller – a strong critic of the project – branded the roadworks “a shambles”. He feared they would stretch beyond 28th March.

He estimated a 40% footfall drop at his museum and café on nearby Bashley Cross Road.

“The council should have put an injunction on the gas board to supply cost and competency plus penalty fines for not completing on time,” he said.

“Businesses, the museum and the football club will never survive by the gas board ‘taking the mickey’.”

New Milton mayor Cllr Alvin Reid, who shares weekly SGN progress reports via social media, understood the works were going well.

Last Thursday’s update stated the closure had moved down to the third and final phase from Thorney Croft to just after Bashley Plant Centre.

“Vehicle access for properties on the north side of the closures will need to access via The Rising Sun end of the road, and those living up to Thorny Croft will need to access via the village,” it said.

Cllr Reid said: “Businesses are clearly suffering.

“Takings are down immensely, but they’ve been alerted to compensation schemes. In general, people are accepting that this has got to happen.”

SGN spokesperson Bradley Barlow said: “I’m pleased to say that we’re making great progress with our project and, all being well, we may be able to complete our work ahead of schedule.”