Nursery 'struggling to survive' amid Allington Lane works

Allington Lane was plagued with Southern Water works last year as they worked to connect the main sewer to the housing development at One Horton Heath.

But now the lane will close for two weeks between January 22 and February 7 as the utility company returns to work on a new connection to a water main.

Allington Nursery and Garden Centre owner Steve Goodridge is "sick to death" by closures, and is now wondering how much longer he can stomach the costs.

READ MORE: Business owner in stand-off with Southern Water over floods

“These closures have gone on the best part of four years and we’ve been dipping into our savings pot, and we’ve only got so much in there,” he said.

“How the hell do they expect people to survive this? This isn’t just us that are struggling, it’s all local businesses, we’ve all still got bills to pay.”

The persistent roadworks in 2024 left the 67-year-old scrambling for custom, as one week in December the nursery took just £10.98 in the tills.

The grounds at Allington Nursery. (Image: Steve Goodridge) But Steve admitted that he lost £3,500 on Christmas trees last year – a massive blow since they are usually his second biggest income stream after fireworks.

READ MORE: Allington Lane to close again for Southern Water works

“We were getting phone calls leading up to Christmas asking if we’re open, because customers had heard we were all closed or couldn’t get here,” Steve said.

“People think we aren’t open because of the constant roadworks. But how many people have gone somewhere else to get their plants because they think we aren’t open?

“Eventually they will find new nurseries and we are going to get forgotten about.”

Steve admitted that it isn’t worth being open now because road closures mean customers will not make the effort to drive through diversions or just assume his nursery is shut.

The Echo understands that customers in the area would have received a letter to tell them about upcoming works.

“It just feels like we’ve been going one step forward, ten steps backwards,” he said.

“There’s more local businesses struggling, a local funeral director told us that they will have to drive eight or nine miles as a diversion where it would usually take two minutes.

“We’re despondent but we’ve got to open. We just don’t feel like being at the nursery because we’re not seeing anyone, but we’ve got to do it."

Southern Water confirmed that the works are not related to One Horton Heath and apologised for disruption.

A spokesperson said: "Our teams will be working on a new connection to a water main at Allington Lane, Fair Oak.

“Unfortunately due to the nature of the work which starts on Wednesday 22 January and will take around two weeks to complete, a small section of Allington Lane (between Clementine Way and May Close) will be closed to traffic.

“A diversion route will be in place while work is carried out. Access on foot and to driveways will be maintained but the work will mean that they will have to follow the diversion route.

“We’re sorry for the impact this will cause customers, businesses and commuters in the area and we recognise this is disruptive but it is essential this work is carried out.”