Hove shops lose trade as roadworks close street

Most of Portland Road in Hove is closed to traffic while UK Power Networks digs it up to install a new service connection.

Brighton and Hove City Council approved the temporary closure from July 20 until September 2, though businesses fear it could go on for longer.

The work stretches from Olive Road to Rutland Road.

'The works have been absolutely ridiculous' Co-owners of Apex Barbers, Mido Khalid (Left) and Anthony Gidis (Right) (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus)

Anthony Gidis, co-owner of Apex Barbers which opened less than a year ago on the corner of Bolsover Road and Portland Road, said: "The works have been absolutely ridiculous. Our footfall has dropped significantly since the metal barriers have gone up as there is no easy way to walk to us or even park.

"Our clients are often late to their appointments due to the disruptions and that pushed our entire schedule back. We've only opened up shop recently and we already have to contend with a major disruption for months to come.

"We have had no letters to warn us about these works and I even sent a letter to UK Power Networks concerning compensation and I have heard nothing back."

The bus services of 25,46 and 49 towards Brighton will be diverted onto New Church Road  (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta/The Argus)

Bus stops between Olive Road and Shelley Road have been closed for the works, including Scott Road, School Road, Coleman Avenue and Olive Road.

The bus services 25, 46 and 49 towards Brighton have diverted onto New Church Road, but then return to Portland Road to serve the Westbourne Street stop.

The number 2 bus towards Rottingdean cannot go down Olive Road and is diverted all the way down Old Shoreham Road where it turns right at Hove Park Tavern and down to Blatchington Road where its service resumes as usual.

The work is being done by UK Power Networks as they look to install a new service connection. (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta/The Argus)

Stuart Morris, director of Brighton Bed Centre, a family-run business that has been in Portland Road for more than 57 years, said: “We were not told about the works at all, we received no letter. We came one morning and they put up signs to say there was no parking there from July onwards.

“Our footfall has dropped off massively since the metal barriers deter people from coming on to the road. Parking has been a nightmare as all the roads are now packed, they even cut down our loading bay without consulting us.

“Deliveries have been an absolute nightmare, we had a lorry delivery the other day who was adamant on parking on the main road and unloading as he had nowhere else to go. It backed up about 40 cars and caused a lot of chaos. 

"We have been here for over 50 years and we have seen nothing like this. It's as if these roadworks have been designed to put people out of their livelihoods. Some of the workers told us the section in front of us would open up in a couple weeks. Yesterday they said it would be seven weeks minimum.

'We have been debating if we should even open up.' Volunteer who helps at the charity (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta/The Argus)

A charity shop in the heart of the main road, Bluebird Society for the Disabled, has been hit hard.

” We have been debating if we should even open up," said a volunteer, who wished to remain anonymous.

"Since the works began our sales have decreased by 90 per cent. Over the weekend we only made £7 when we usually average over £100 per day.

“We have also had no donations come in as nobody walks or drives on this road due to the works.”

'We are to listening to residents and businesses and taking steps to help reduce the impact' Cllr Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport, parking and public realm (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus)

Brighton and Hove city councillor Trevor Muten cabinet member for transport, parking and public realm, said: “Although the work is not the responsibility of the council, we are  listening to residents and businesses and taking steps to help reduce the impact.

“We are also in regular contact with UK Power Networks and have stressed the importance of this work being completed on time.”

A spokeswoman for UK Power Networks said: "UK Power Networks is currently upgrading the electricity network in the Portland Road area of Brighton to maintain reliable electricity supplies for homes and businesses. We apologise for any disruption caused by this project, which will deliver long-term benefits for the area.

"We wrote to several thousand properties along the cable route on July 9 and further communications are planned to keep the community updated. We have worked closely with the local authority to plan the work, including appointing two digging teams working weekdays and weekends in the school holidays to complete the work as quickly as possible.

"This is investment work to maintain the reliability of electricity supplies and while we are unable to offer compensation, we are working hard to keep the impact to a minimum and keep residents informed.

"An eastbound closure is in place on Portland Road, between Ingram Crescent West and Rutland Gardens, to enable our teams to safely install ducts for new underground electricity cables between July 20 and September 2, 2024. The work is part of a project to install new cables between Fishersgate and Brighton which started in April 2024 and is due to continue in stages until March 2025."