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Electric fault gives owner a nasty shock

22/ 3/2008

A YORKSHIRE Street businessman claims takings have plummeted by 80 per cent while roadworks have been ongoing outside his store.

Tofiq Malik, owner of Home2Home furniture store, says the disruption has cost him thousands of pounds in lost business and caused some customers to think the store had actually closed down.

The 46-year-old also claims electricity has been cut six times in the last three weeks as United Utilities workmen replace cabling in the road.

He said: "It is affecting my business in a big way. I am losing customers left, right and centre because people drive past and see the barriers up and the lights off and think I’ve closed down.

"I run a small business and I still have staff to pay even if I am not taking any money.

"These last three weeks have set me back months, but when I phone United Utilities they say it is unavoidable and there is nothing they can do.

"I appreciate the need to do the work, but surely it could have been staggered or better managed."

A United Utilities spokesman said: "We are currently working to locate the source of an intermittent cable fault in Yorkshire Street.

"We are carrying out tests to find the precise location of the fault. Unfortunately, this is a lengthy process, but we do sympathise with the gentleman and we would like to reassure him that we are doing everything we can to get the situation resolved as soon as possible."