A BUSINESSMAN has said local businesses have been kept in the dark about planned roadworks, after the street outside his shop was dug up three times in two months by three different companies.

Michael Clarke, who runs Clocks & Moor, in Kirkbymoorside, said that Howe End was dug up three weeks ago by the gas board, last week by a telecommunications firm and will be dug up again in mid-July by Yorkshire Water.

Mr Clarke said that although Yorkshire Water had sent a letter forewarning businesses of the work, they hadn’t received any communication about the previous two work programmes which had closed the road - warnings that could have helped businesses put contingencies in place or close for a few days.

“It would have been nice if they’d told us what was happening,” he said. “There was no notification, no consultation. They’ve got to do the work. But nobody came and said to us this may involve us having work four feet from your front door.”

Jane Thomas,who runs the adjacent Summit Bakery, said there were times when the barrier was one foot from her front window, and added that it’s very likely her cafe had been affected. “If warning had been given, I’d likely have closed for a few days,” she said.

A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman said that although it grants permits for the work, it is the responsibility of the utility companies to inform businesses and residents. Services, whether in the gas, water, electricity, telecommunications or other fields, have statutory rights to carry out street work,” they said.

“In February the county council introduced a scheme where all scheduled work is granted a permit and the council has greater ability to ensure that work in the same area does not clash and, where possible, avoids peak times of day and busy times of year.

“Unfortunately, urgent repairs are often required in the event of equipment failure, water or gas leaks, for example, so it is not always possible for utilities to plan ahead. For the installation of new services, developers are reliant on the availability of utility service contractors.

“In these instances the council notifies certain bodies such as the emergency services and bus companies, but informing businesses and residents is the responsibility of the utility companies through their own communications teams.”