Roadworks ‘nightmare’ has cost Halifax restaurant owners around £60,000
Restaurant owners have criticised Calderdale Council - for 10 months of roadworks in the town centre
Owners of an Italian restaurant in Halifax say a ten-month nightmare resulting from a multi-million pound roadworks scheme has cost them around £60,000 in reduced takings.
Cousins Lino and Antonio Massimo have built up their family restaurant at Sapore, which is in Central Street, over nine years, weathering the Covid-19 pandemic.
But major roadworks which Calderdale Council says will improve routes in and around Halifax town centre in the long run have been a nightmare, they say.
Flooding into Sapore’s basement kitchen one night this week, which attending water authorities told them resulted from a workmanship fault on paving outside, saw them take to social media to express their frustration.
The flooding incident was followed by their Business Rates bill dropping on the mat – the amount almost doubled, said Lino.
On Facebook they criticised the council and the contractors undertaking the major A629 phase 2 Halifax town centre project for lack of communication and impact the work had on their business.
The post has gone viral, with almost 400 shares to date, each containing multiple comments.
“Enough is enough – we want to give a ‘huge’ thank you to the council and Galliford Try for seemingly doing everything in their power to shut us down.
“After nearly a year of being boxed in, we have reached our breaking point,” they said.
In the ten months since work started on roads around the restaurant, incidents have included work barriers blocking the restaurant’s disabled access three times, missed completion dates, and dust and dirt, all affecting customers.
Lino said the blocking of the disabled access was very, and particularly, concerning.
The cousins are far from throwing in the towel but in terms of expressing their frustrations, the flooding incident was a final straw in terms of keeping quiet, they said.
“We were here until 4am with Yorkshire Water who confirmed the flooding was caused directly by the poor workmanship on the council project outside,” they wrote.
Business rates nearly doubling topped off the week, said the cousins.
Lino said the issues had mounted up since June last year, when work began, with other issues including pavement barriers banging against the restaurant’s windows when it was windy, and a lack of signage to indicate to customers that although paths and roads were blocked off at times, the restaurant was, and is, open.
He says takings are down £60,000 over the ten months, compared to the previous year, as a result.
The cousins said: “How are we expected to pay double rates when the council is actively blocking our customers from entering and flooding our kitchen?
“We are a local business trying to survive but these conditions are making it impossible.”
The restaurant has received messages of support, including from Town ward councillor Kelly Thornham, who with colleague Coun Joe Thompson would escalate the issues, Lino said.
Responding on behalf of Calderdale Council and Gailliford Try, the council’s Assistant Director for Strategic Infastructure, Adrian Gill, acknowledged there had been issues for businesses, including Sapore.
“We fully appreciate and regret the disruption the essential regeneration work in Halifax town centre is having on Sapore and other businesses.
“Supporting local businesses is really important to us – it’s never our intention for improvement works to make things more difficult, and we want businesses to feel listened to and supported.
“Along with the construction contractor, Galliford Try, we are in touch with Sapore about their specific concerns, and will keep them updated as we continue to investigate the cause of the flooding to their kitchen,” he said.
Mr Gill also said the regeneration work in the top part of town where Sapore is situated is due to finish soon.
“This is part of the wider A629 Phase 2 project to make journeys quicker, safer and more welcoming when walking, wheeling, cycling or driving through town – as well as improving public spaces and public transport links.
“Unfortunately we know this work brings some temporary disruption.
“Our teams are working as efficiently as possible to complete the works and minimise disruption.
“This includes maintaining safe access for pedestrians, appropriate signage and ongoing discussions with all affected businesses,” he said.
While Business Rates are set by the Government nationally, there is the possibility of a reduction, said Mr Gill.
“Business rates are set by the Government at a national level.
“However, we can offer discounts through rate relief schemes, such as our Supporting Small Business Relief scheme, which businesses like Sapore receive.
“Any business that has a query about their rates should contact the Business Rates team quoting their account number from their rates bill.
“The team can be contacted at [email protected] or you can speak to a Customer First advisor on 01422 393699,” said Mr Gill.