Chain protest threat by angry pub landlord.

Byline: MARTIN SMITH

DELAYED SEWER WORK HAS PUT JOBS AND HIS LIVELIHOOD AT RISK

A PUB landlord says he will chain himself to a mechanical digger if roadworks continue to keep a Coventry road closed.

Andrew Ashby, licensee of the Miners Arms pub, in Alderman's Green Road, Coventry, is threatening desperate protest action unless the troublesome roadworks are completed soon.

Part of the busy road has been closed since July 29 to allow for essential work on a sewer.

A four-mile diversion is in operation and Mr Ashby says the closure has led to a massive loss in business that is now putting his livelihood at risk.

He said: "If it carries on, I will tie myself to a digger. I do not care if I get arrested. If I lose my livelihood, I have nothing to lose anyway.

"I would say a good 60 per cent of trade has been lost. It is a big dip and I'm fuming."

The work, to rectify a flooding problem after heavy rain, was meant to be completed within a week.

But the road remains shut after workmen had problems reaching the affected section of a sewer. Mr Ashby, who has been running the pub for the past two years, added: "If it carries on, I can see my employees losing their jobs and I will lose all I have got.

"I'm very concerned about it but you can't do anything about it. I am not very happy about it because I'm going to end up pear-shaped.

"If they put the hours in overnight we could understand it."

The city council said this week that work had been prolonged because workmen had had trouble unearthing the section which needed attention.

They apologised for the inconvenience.

CAPTION(S):

FUMING: Andrew Ashby (right) with Nippy Chippy owner Aristides Aristidou who is also concerned about the roadworks. Picture: JAMES BALFOUR