SugarBeat Eating House owner angry with EDF roadworks

Stevie King, owner of the SugarBeat Eating House in Swainsthorpe along the A140, says the site's lunchtime figures are down 90pc - while being 15pc down overall in March - thanks to recent cable work being carried out.

Stevie King, director at the SugarBeat Eating House, says his overall takings are down 15pc in March due to the roadworks (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest) Mr King says the work, by Power Systems UK - a sub-contractor for EDF Energy - has customers avoiding the restaurant because they do not want to be stuck in queues of traffic caused by the roadworks. 

Adding to the drastic drop-off in turnover Mr King claims there was no communication prior to the work starting and the 24/7 traffic lights are expected to last until September beginning in Hickling Lane and ending at Brickkiln Lane roughly a mile away.

Mr King, who's owned the venue for 11 years, said: "This is an extra layer of pressure applied to the business we don't need.
 
"Losing the amount I have so far is not sustainable in this climate – it’s frustrating how this has been handled.

The roadworks are being carried out by Power Systems UK, a sub-contractor for EDF Energy (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest) "The lack of consultation, communication and utter disregard for the businesses here - prior to work starting in February - is appalling.

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"We have 25 weddings booked between April and October - a part of the business we're really trying to grow.

The SugarBeat Eating House in Swainsthorpe, near the A140 (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest) Large queues of traffic outside the SugarBeat Eating House (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)

"Having a pneumatic drill or something going off while having the service here will hurt our customers' experience and damage our reputation."

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Norfolk County Council said it's been in touch with the contractor to put in "measures to minimise the disruption" while EDF Energy said it "wants to try and find a way to reduce the impact that this work is having".

Norfolk County Council said it's been in touch with the contractor to put in measures to minimise the disruption (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest) The mitigation measures Power Systems UK have implemented include manually controlled lights from 7am to 7pm to ensure "proper traffic flow" and having the lights only be in place when active work is happening.

The council added it has also "secured an agreement that the contractor will work weekends and extended hours to complete the project as quickly as possible".

Mr King said losing the amount he has so far is not sustainable in this climate (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)