Roadworks Justice For Local Businesses

EDM number 370 in 2016-17, proposed by Greg Mulholland on 20/07/2016.
Categorised under the topics of Roads, Service industries, Small businesses and Utilities.

That this House recognises that many small independent businesses, including small shops and pubs, are negatively affected by road and utilities works; notes that some businesses, such as Castle Stores in Mow Cop, near Stoke, have lost as much as £800 per week over a three-month period this year due to the effect of road and utilities work, but have not received adequate compensation for this; further notes that this level of loss can result in small businesses closing, with the licensee of The Station Hotel in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, recently reported being on the verge of closure due to a roadworks scheme costing the pub £20,000 in lost trade, and that the Green Bricks pub in Hull has lost £6,000 a week since November 2015 in an ongoing roadworks scheme, and the licensee has been informed there is no legal obligation for compensation from any avenue; is frustrated that the process to apply for compensation is challenging and time consuming and that it often results in no compensation being given; believes this unfairly discriminates against small businesses, as larger companies have the resources to cope with the disruption or pursue compensation where small business owners do not; and calls on the Government to reform the way small businesses can receive compensation, supporting these small businesses through making it easier for them to claim compensation and increasing the amount of compensation they can receive through a consistent and uniform process.

This motion has been signed by a total of 10 MPs.