Pub's trade 'killed stone dead' by road closure

Jason Tharp runs The George Inn in Leeds near Maidstone

A businessman who runs a pub says his trade has been "killed stone dead" by a road closure to fix a water leak.

Jason Tharp, who runs The George Inn in Leeds near Maidstone in Kent, said the South East Water emergency works came without warning on Monday.

Mr Tharp, who runs the business with his wife Debbie, said: "As it is classed as an 'emergency', they do not have to tell anyone and it also means we cannot claim compensation for the lost trade. It's killed our trade stone dead."

Jack Vaughan, distribution manager for South East Water, said the leak repair had been completed but the closure remained in place for safety reasons while workers "reinstate the road".

Mr Tharp, who spent many years in the road surfacing industry before becoming a publican, added: "We had a really good weekend and then this happens. The profitability goes through the floor."

He said he had no sympathy for the water company.

"They don't really take us into consideration because we are just a little business in the village," Mr Tharp added.

Kent County Council issues permits for temporary road closures, the number of which has ballooned in recent years due to highway maintenance, water leaks, other utility works and house building, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mr Vaughan said: "We know that leaks are frustrating to see but please be assured that we are working flat out to reduce leakage across our network."

When asked if Mr Tharp's business would be able to claim for losses, a South East Water spokesperson said they would look into it.

Despite the disruption to the pub, Leeds Castle chief executive Helen Bonser-Wilton said the day-to-day running of the venue was unaffected by the closure.