Barnham Fish and Chip shop's business down nearly 50 per cent as sewage pipe collapse closes main road

“It’s usually busy this time of year because families come down to meet one another, and they don't want to cook, so they treat themselves to a takeaway,” the Barnham Fish Bar owner said. “It’s all big orders for big groups. It’s Ten cod and chips, five cod and chips. There are orders for old people’s homes, that sort of thing. But if people can’t come down, we don't get that trade.”

When the sewage pipe collapsed on Thursday (December 7), the fish bar was slap bang in the middle of the disruption that followed – the full closure of Barnham Road, sewage in the Barnham Rife and Southern Water assets roving the area – and now they’re feeling the squeeze.

"I’ve just lost so much trade. It’s really bad. And the thing is, as a small business, I’ve got to pay my income tax based on last year’s takings, and last year I was buzzing, but this year I’m not. And the worry is ‘will I have money to pay the income tax? Can I pay the VAT?’ It’s a massive concern, and I just don’t know if we will,” Mr Chimonides said.

"Everyone in Barnham is suffering right now. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fish and chip shop, the Indian takeaway, the Chinese takeaway, the Kebab shop. We’re all feeling it right now.”

He made clear that the community needs an intervention, and for Southern Water staff to fix the collapsed sewer pipe as soon as possible, and questioned if the water company should be liable for what businesses like his have lost in trade: “I want that sewer fixed ASAP so I can get my business back. That's not me, but everyone. And it’s not just the main sewer. It’s also the sewer that connects Orchard Way and everything else. If you said to me that this is a third world country, I’d believe you. But we’re not a third world country, this shouldn’t be happening here. They shouldn’t be cutting corners."

Speaking to Sussex World, a Southern Water spokesperson said: "This repair is proving to be difficult due to further issues we have encountered including a void under the road which means this work may take some time to complete. We’re very sorry for the disruption this is causing.”

Earlier today, they issued a renewed update: “We are hoping to complete the work and leave the site before Christmas, if we do not come up against further issues, and we will provide updates when we can.”

The company also made clear that it is working with the local council following flood issues in the aftermath of Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, and has committed to a meeting about long term concerns in the Barnham area in the new year, at which community members can air their grievances. A spokesperson made clear that the company’s current focus is resolving the issue at hand, but residents and business owners impacted by internal flooding might be entitled to compensation via the GSS scheme.