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Garden centre fears for future over sewer works

Tom Hepworth
BBC News, Fair Oak
BBC Stephen Goodridge is looking slightly off camera while giving a TV interview. He has mid length white hair and wears a white collared shirt with a grey waterproof unzipped gilet over the top. He stands in front of a row of evergreen shrubs and a green sheet in his garden centre.BBC
Stephen Goodridge says he has had to cancel orders which could not get into his premises due to the roadworks

A garden nursery owner has said he could be forced to close because of the impact of sewer works on a nearby housing development.

Stephen Goodridge said work by Southern Water for the One Horton Heath project in Fair Oak, near Eastleigh, resulted in flooding in December.

He believes roadworks near the entrance to his business also put off potential customers, which led to a legal dispute with the water firm.

A Southern Water spokesperson said they had been in "regular contact" with Mr Goodridge and had made a goodwill payment.

Stephen Goodridge A photo taken at nighttime of the roadworks. There is a red metal tall fence, which has a white and yellow sign which reads 'Danger, high voltage cables overhead'. There is water covering the road and to the right of the image a pile of large red metal tubes. There is a digger in the background and piles of rubble to the left of the image.Stephen Goodridge
Mr Goodridge said Southern Water caused flooding near his business which damaged his stock

Mr Goodridge's business is based in Allington Lane, just down the road from the One Horton Heath development, where 2,500 homes and a school need connecting to sewers.

Works were ongoing through Decemeber and the Allington Lane Nursery owner claims Southern Water caused flooding by blocking gullies with pipes.

Mr Goodridge said this flooding damaged his stocks of garden furniture, fireworks and fertiliser.

An aerial view of the One Horton Heath development. Shows a large section of land, which is mostly brown with rows of vans and goodsvehicles ot the right and crates piled with building materials. In the distance the land is lined with trees and greenery.
Southern Water is carrying out sewer works for the One Horton Heath development

The water firm has recently completed urgent gas works in the road, during which time there was a legal dispute over access to Mr Goodridge's land.

"Our savings have all gone into this now, because we've had to put the money in," he explained.

"There is an element of risk that it could not survive. I feel like, what's the point in coming down in the mornings, what's the point in getting up early?

"You're just fighting a brick wall, if it carries on like this we're going to be dumping tens of thousands of plants."

Mr Goodridge is walking through his garden centre. He is surrounded by green plants and walking down a narrow pathway, lined by plants for sale. It is a sunny day and the sky is bright blue, he is looking towards some purple alium flowers to the left of the image.
Mr Goodridge said he has struggled to see the point in opening some days because of the impact of the roadworks

A Southern Water spokesperson said the firm understood work "can be disruptive to customers" and a member of the team would be meeting with Mr Goodridge in the next week.

They added: "After lengthy negotiations and following urgent gas works, we began our works on 7 April and completed on 2 May.

"We apologise for the extended length of time involved, and made a goodwill payment to Mr Goodridge as a result."

Mr Goodridge has denied this statement and said he has not received an interim payment.

He said he fears the "damage has already been done" and is meeting with his accountant to find out if his business can remain viable.

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