Big freeze hits Bexhill's traders

Many of us struggled to get into town with public transport hit hard by icy conditions and pavements and roads suddenly impossible to use.

Schools were closed, trains cancelled, cars snowed in '“ tempting to stay at home and batten down the hatches until it was all over.

So how did this affect our traders? The Bexhill Observer hit the (ungritted) streets to find out.

John Stocker of Newsmart in Western Road opened as usual even over the weekend '“ he was there 5.30am on Saturday, which is his normal time, and on Sunday left home at 4.55am to walk in from Little Common.

"We didn't deliver papers at all, but we were very busy on Saturday because people actually came out to pick their papers up, then Sunday morning was about the same as it normally is. But generally throughout the week it was quiet because of the snow. It's been slower than it normally is, and we are way down on sales '“ but that's life."

Steve Brown of the Pound Shop and indoor market fruit and vegetable stall commented: "Bexhill is very vulnerable to weather. When there is strong wind or rain it has a bad effect. When the pavements are slippery, which they are extremely, I should think 90 percent of customers who are elderly just can't come out. I don't think the council has touched the pavements '“ it wasn't so bad when the snow was fresh but when it gets impacted then even I have trouble standing up, and some of the old girls just can't cope.

Kirsty Smith of Farmhouse Kitchen said: "We have been affected. The lunchtime trade hasn't been affected too badly but it's our older customers who come in for their meats and bread who are not getting in '“ that's where we have noticed it."

Manager of Woosters Linda Brown said: "Friday and Saturday we were quiet but we were more affected this week. It has surprised me, I thought we would be back to normal by Monday. But a lot of people did panic buying and don't need anything yet so they are not coming in."

Rod Bailey of Cancer Research UK said: "We know our turnover was significantly down. I think people are just scared to come out '“ they are frightened of falling over '“ it seems to me that's the main thing. But we have plenty of stock just waiting to be sold."

At Danny's Discount Store in Devonshire Road manager Natasha Cobbold said: "Obviously it has been pretty bad, probably more so because the roads and pavements are snowed over. People haven't been able to get here at all. We have ourselves had to walk to work from Sidley because we couldn't get the bus, so that was fun. Saturday was horrendous '“ it was the worst day I have ever seen, and that's usually our busiest day of the week...I got to Devonshire Road and it was pure white, you couldn't see the road or the pavement or anything."

Andy Rimmer, owner of the cafe No.48 said: "We have been affected this week but on Saturday there were a few people out '“ they were out enjoying the weather and having snowball fights, then came in for a cup of tea or coffee after. We had some customers walk all the way from St Leonards. It was not as busy as usual but still some people were out and about."

Len Grainger at Priceless hardware shop said: "It has affected business. With the cold people just don't want to come out. We thought that once these pavements were cleared it was going to make a difference...if they were. It has made a difference, it has got to because people are just not coming into the town. They are just buying the essentials, their break and milk, that they really need."

Alison Mills of the Merchant House and Inspiration commented: "The weather hasn't helped. It has been as bad as we thought it was going to be...but then January is always the quietest month of the year usually. The toys have been selling, because kids are still having their birthdays and people are coming in to buy presents. But we would like the snow to go away now."

Sue Spice of Bexhill Chamber of Commerce said: "I wouldsay that the winners in all this weather must have been the local convenience stores, but even they are now suffering with lack of deliveries. In a prolonged period of bad weather we revert back to basics - food gathering, keeping safe and warm. It is no surprise that businesses in town are suffering, dangerous pavements and side roadsonly make a badsituation even worse."

There have been interesting scenes at Sainsbury's where on Tuesday the supermarket seemed as busy as on Christmas Eve.

Manager Marco Sarro described the week's business as "erratic" and said: "We have had days that were exceptionally busy, as people panic bought, but other times have been very quiet. One minute we could be heaving, busier than Christmas, the next it would go dead. Everyone came in on Friday and Saturday and then on Sunday it died down a bit.

On Saturday from 10-1pm it was chaos, and we had queues down the aisles...but by 4pm we were playing Spot The Customer.

"It took us by surprise a little bit. There's usually a bit of a rush when there is snow or wind but it was more than we anticipated. Luckily most deliveries got here on time but we struggled a bit on Saturday when deliveries couldn't get down here. But we are more or less back to normal now.

"The staff were great '“ I think on the worst day we had just a couple of colleagues who couldn't turn up. They made it in whatever...a fantastic effort, we offered our customers the best service we could."