Written question WQ84432
- Asked by
- Russell GeorgeConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What support is available to businesses who are financially impacted by the closure of the A458 road as a result of current repair works taken place?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change
The Welsh Government has a statutory duty to maintain highways and sympathises with the situation in which businesses find themselves when works are necessary in their vicinity. It is appreciated that such works can cause disruption to those living or working alongside road schemes, and every effort is made to complete the work as soon as possible.
However, there is no statutory provision to enable the Welsh Government to compensate businesses for loss of trade in such circumstances, and where a highway authority carries out works under statutory power or duty, and performs those works properly; there is no legal liability on the authority for increased expenses, neither does the Welsh Government have the power to make ex gratia offers of payment or compensation for the disturbance.