Construction Headaches for Local Businesses

Monday, 4 December 2017 14:49

Local businesses are really starting to feel the pinch from the delays in construction at Norwich Ave and Parkinson.

WOODSTOCK - The Construction on Norwich Ave and Parkinson has been a headache for motorists, however it's the local businesses who are really feeling the pinch.

Owner of All About Health Remedy RX Lee Tuan says the construction has resulted in a 25 percent drop in business. Tuan says they were told the construction would be over by the end of September and now it is spilling into the busy Christmas season.

"We have food vendors and restaurants in our plaza, and of course we spoke with them and they are feeling the impact as well. We are looking at the convenience store across the street from us and obviously, there is no traffic going through them and I am pretty sure they are feeling the crunch as well."

He has asked the County for support and says so far no plan is announced to support any local business who's affected by this construction. Tuan's frustration boiled over with a Facebook post on Friday. He says he has brought this issue up to the City and the County and it seems like nobody wants to accept any blame.

"We contacted City of Woodstock, Ontario and blame went to Oxford County. The County blamed Hydro One. Nobody seems to have any idea how to speed up the process. The planning was so poor in this project that nobody wanted to be responsible. We have a 25% decline in our business as a result. So far no plan is announced to support any local business who's affected by this construction."

Tuan says a 25 percent reduction in business is a huge loss for them. Director of Public Works for the County David Simpson's say they are hopeful the construction will be completed this week. He says a lot of factors have resulted in the delay.

"We are doing a fulsome road reconstruction as well as replacing underground water mains, storm sewers and sanitary sewers, so it is a big undertaking. We were doing our best to do all this work in one big project, so we didn't have to disrupt the public again and go back in a few years. Given the magnitude of that project, obviously we are dealing with A, the weather, B different contractors on site, whether it was our County Contractor which was Sierra doing the work, or Hydro One who had to be integrated into the project as well. So it is kind of the nature when you are dealing with large scale projects like that."

Simpson says he does understand that it has been a trying time for local business owners.

"It's a very valid point, all we can say at this point, is we are definitely confident that the capital investments that we have made to the infrastructure in that area will benefit those businesses and homeowners who rely on the underground servicing that was replaced and going forward those same businesses and residents will experience better access both on and off that enhanced road network in that area."