DISRUPTIVE gas works are continuing to kill off firms’ business in Southend as motorists face “doubled” journey times.

Vital gas works in Ennismore Gardens, has resulted in part of Sutton Road, being shut, which has left businesses without customers and drivers with hour long delays.

The Echo has already reported how Robert Sloan, the owner of tyre garage Sloans, who are based on Sutton Road, has had to send staff home after the business ran out of customers to serve.

And now Mark Glyde, the owner of popular Sutton Road Butchers, has revealed his business has lost 15 customers a day because of gas company Cadent’s roadworks.

A regular driver in Sutton Road, Christine Austin, stated that journey times have doubled since the introduction of the roadworks.

An outraged Mr Sloan has also claimed he has been offered £200 in compensation by Cadent while promised ‘business open as usual’ signs have not arrived.

He said: “They offered me that [£200] as compensation for the custom we have lost.

“If it is transferred to my bank account, I will be giving it to the two lads I had to send home last week. They have mouths to feed at home.

“I was also told by [Cadent] that the signs would be put in place Friday, then Saturday, then Sunday. They still haven’t been done.

“I’ll believe it when I see it. The customers are slowly coming back, but only thanks to the Echo. They are still asking us if we are open.”

Kevin Buck, councillor for transport at Southend Council, said more should have been done to accommodate the businesses affected.

He said: “It seems like they have been forgotten. Compensation should have been prior to the works being given the go ahead.

“An impact assessment should have been done before.

“I understand that these are essential but better access would have been more helpful.

Cadent was contacted for a statement on a number of occasions, including on Friday and again yesterday but no response was received.