Roses are red, violets are blue, Eastleigh florist hit by roadworks now threatens to sue (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Roses are red, violets are blue, Eastleigh florist hit by roadworks now threatens to sue

12:50pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010 in

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IT should have been her busiest time of the year but florist, Samantha Moore, was left with a shop full of wilting blooms after controversial roadworks drove her clients away, costing her £1,200 in lost sales in the run-up to Valentine’s Day.

The owner of Floral Art, in Falkland Road, Eastleigh, is now demanding compensation from highway chiefs, blaming the closure of Leigh Road for the devastating slump in business.

Unable to sleep due to the stress caused by a massive 80 per cent drop in trade, the 27-year-old is angry that Hampshire County Council did not even warn her about the resurfacing work just yards from her shop. Desperate to cut her losses, she even took her flowers to nearby pubs in the evenings to try to sell them. But Samantha was told by many would-be customers that they went elsewhere to avoid the traffic chaos caused by the closures.

From February 8, motorists had faced delays resulting from the closure of Leigh Road between the M3 overpass and the junction with Bournemouth Road. Work was due to be completed this week.

Despite cutting her stock order by half, Samantha made only £300 instead of the usual £1,500.

“I’m so angry that the council didn’t even have the decency to warn me about the roadworks,” she said.

“I believe the county council should pay some kind of compensation or reduce my rates because they have no problem taking money off me, despite my business being ruined by their roadworks.”

Now Eastleigh MP, Chris Huhne, is backing Samantha’s case. He said: “This is the most extreme case I have come across, to suddenly get walloped by a road closure like this, which is drying up any passing trade. My heart goes out to her.”

Hampshire County Council bosses said resurfacing work was combined with utility works.

Mel Kendal, who is executive county councillor for environment, added: “Although we are sympathetic to the trader’s situation, unlike the private sector, we are governed by the Highways Act and have no powers to compensate businesses.”

What do you think? Have you been affected? Leave your comments below.