Businesswoman's one-way plea (From Free Press Series)

Businesswoman's one-way plea

A CHEPSTOW businesswoman has spoken out in concern for the future of her company amid fears that the one-way system may soon be re-introduced into the High Street.

Susie Corker, proprietor of Furniture Smart, at The Mill, The Back, said: "I am adamant the one-way system should not come back, I do not think I could survive.

"I lost a lot of trade last month because of it - I thought I was going to have to close down - if it had continued longer than it did, there would have been serious problems. The traffic queues put hours on our working day.

"I am still feeling the repercussions now, it has caused me serious cash flow problems."

Mrs Corker says that customers kept away from her shop when the one-way system was in force between April 21 - 30, because they did not want to join the queues that had brought the town centre to a stand still.

"I was sitting on £1m worth of stock and I couldn't shift it because no-one wanted to bring there cars down here because it would have meant them queuing for hours to get back out again.

"A lot of the furniture is big and heavy - not the kind you can carry up the road. I would be absolutely devastated if that was to happen again, my business would probably go bust in less than a month - yet trade went back to normal almost instantly when they put the two-way system back in place."

The Regeneration Working Group, who are overseeing the work in the town, are currently in a period of consultation with the Welsh Assembly and Highways engineers, who are checking the viability of rephrasing the traffic lights.

The Group is to hold a closed meeting next Monday afternoon to discuss the traffic situation - this has raised a great deal of concern and suspicion among local business and resident who are feeling excluded from the talks.

"I love working in Chepstow, I chose to come here after Cribbs Causeway was opened," said Mrs Corker. "A lot of people told me I was mad coming here, but I wanted to bring something special into the area.

"I would like the Regeneration Group to give us the opportunity to attend the meeting, a lot of us who have businesses at the bottom of town feel cut off and concerned for our future."