THE director of a business has written to district council and highways bosses to express her “disgust” at roadworks which causes chaos before Christmas.

Amanda Cantor, director of the Factory Shop in the Purdeys Industrial Estate, Rochford, penned the letter following the roadworks by BT at the roundabout at the entrance to the industrial estate on Sutton Road in the first two weeks of December.

The work was to repair a collapsed manhole box, but businesses hit out at the timing of the work saying “vital” Christmas trade was lost due to severe traffic and delays.

In her letter, which was sent to Rochford District Council, Essex Highways and MP James Duddridge, Mrs Cantor said many businesses were affected.

She wrote: “I am absolutely disgusted with the timing and lack of concern for the businesses on the Purdeys Way Industrial Estate and the surrounding areas. No one from the council had the decency to give us any warning, nor had the common sense to realise the impact on businesses and residents at the busiest shopping time of the year when many people have to make extra journeys.

“We have taken on extra staff for the Christmas period and now found ourselves with stock that will not be sold and will have to be paid for and stored until next year which will affect the finances of our company and will probably result in jobs being lost.”

Mrs Cantor said highways and the district council had shown “sheer incompetence and neglect of duty” and urged them to award discretionary rates relief to support the badly affected businesses.