A KIDDERMINSTER businessman whose premises will be demolished to make way for a new road says he has been left in limbo by the county council.

Jeremy Clarke, owner of Ashlane Kitchens, said his relocation plans have stalled as the authority has not yet recruited someone who can negotiate his move!

Mr Clarke, who will still be trading at the Worcester Road site for the next 17 months, said it was a big slap in the face finding out his current premises could be reduced to rubble by December next year.

Worcestershire County Council wants to knock it down to make way for the Hoobrook Link Road, which would connect Stourport Road to Worcester Road, but Mr Clarke fears time could be running out to find a suitable new building.

“For us to be able to find new premises we have to employ a chartered surveyor, who has to be in negotiations with someone at the council to find out who is paying for what but the council hasn’t employed anyone to do that,”he said.

“Idon’t know what it’s going to mean for me and my business – we’re in a state of limbo at the moment.

“It’s getting closer and closer and they’re not getting their act together. I feel as if they don’t know what they’re doing.

“All of our stuff is fitted to the floor so we can’t just up and move. We have to be able to continue trading and find new premises to do so. That is a feat in itself.”

Mr Clarke, who has been in business for 29 years, received an unexpected letter from the authority in March stating his retail showroom, which features kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms,faced demolition.

He said his three staff members had taken the news “very hard”,
adding his secretary recently quit her job after a year over the
uncertainty.

He added: “It makes me feel sick. The letter came as a complete shock – completely out of the blue. I’m frustrated to death because we can’t possibly close.

“It’s massively scary. They are steamrolling ahead with this link road and we’re left holding the baby.

“Business is tough. It’s a battle to keep things going and then to get this – I’m devastated.”

A county council spokesman said they were liaising with 15 land owners and tenants about the development, adding they would be recruiting a consultant by the end of the month

“In the meantime, one of our officers is communicating with landowners, tenants and, where appropriate, agents,” he added.