Paula Burnham, owner of Luxe Hair Design and Gents Barber Shop in Solihull, found herself at the center of a frustrating situation just days before Christmas. Arriving to open her salon on December 18th, she was confronted by a roadworks crew who had blocked eight parking spaces with vans, cones, and barriers on Hobs Moat Road—a key spot relied upon by her customers.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Paula emphasized how vital the festive season is for her business and how the loss of convenient parking was severely impacting customer access. Determined to defend her livelihood, she stood in front of the workers, hoping they might cease their work early, but they were unwavering.
Adding to her frustration was the lack of communication from Solihull Council. Paula revealed she received no prior notice or consultation about the disruptive roadworks, and attempts to contact the council yielded slow and unhelpful responses. “I was told somebody would get back to me, but it could take up to ten working days—completely impractical for this urgent situation,” she said.
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Despite her efforts to persuade the contractors to move their vehicles, they insisted they held the appropriate permit. The work, described as routine and necessary for public safety, occupied over a day but was largely confined to just two parking spots for the majority of the time, according to a council spokesperson.
Fortunately, the construction was completed overnight, minimizing further disruption to Paula’s business. Still, the experience highlights how essential clear communication and considerate scheduling are—especially during critical trading periods like the run-up to Christmas.