AS the multi-million pound regeneration project for a shopping precinct draws to a close the District Council is facing a hefty extra bill to help compensate traders for disruption.

Progress on the Broadway Enhancement Scheme, in Loughton, has been continuing apace since the start of this year and the council is now considering deferring up to £156,219 of rent owed by shopkeepers after their trade was hit by construction work.

And shopkeepers along the Broadway are also taking matters into their own hands with a tribunal calling for a reduction in council tax rates due to take place in Witham on July 21.

Although traders were in general agreement that the outcome of the enhancement scheme has been good for shops, they all said works had disrupted their trade badly, particularly when at one point both roads on the Broadway were closed to traffic.

Arnold Burman of Blow your Top hairdressers said: “People would come through, and think: ‘we can’t park let’s go elsewhere’. I’ve worked here 23 years and when I say business is bad I mean very bad.

“It was very disruptive and we are feeling the pinch, but people are slowly coming back. I’ll be surprised if I do get any compensation.”

Chairman of Debden Traders Association Peter Sparks said: “Hopefully we’ll get a rebate. Whatever we get will be gratefully received as we are in difficult circumstances.”

Geraldine Wilson, of Geraldine’s Hair Fashions, said: “I don’t think we’ll get anything with it. Around 10 per cent if we are lucky.

“We have been through a lot here and a lot of the shops are hanging on by a thread. We are just hoping we can carry on. We are not asking for a lot. Anything would help.”

The Broadway Enhancement Scheme has so far seen new pavements, lights, and benches, and a new car parking arrangement.

Chairman of Loughton Broadway Town Centre Partnership Dave Stannard said: “We are generally very, very pleased with it. Most of the reaction has been favourable. Obviously there were difficulties during construction, and hopefully the council will look at rebating some of the rent, but now it’s done the Broadway is more vital and attractive which is very positive.”

The district council is due to decide on whether to defer shopkeepers rent at its cabinet meeting on Monday, July 13 at the Civic Offices, in Epping.