A DEVASTATED owner of a Kidderminster jewellery store that has closed has blamed town centre works for a huge drop in trade.

The shutters came down for the final time on jeweller and pawnbroker shop Harvey’s, which is based in The Bullring, earlier this week resulting in the loss of five jobs.

And owner Annabella Harvey-Lawrence claimed disruption caused by Wyre Forest District Council’s £2million transformation project caused irreversible damage to her business and revenue plummet by 60 per cent.

But she moved to reassure clients that their goods were secure and they could arrange to collect them from her.

Regeneration chiefs said they were sorry to see the business close in the town and that every effort was made to ensure ‘business as usual’ was maintained while works were carried out. They added they were not approached to help.

Harvey’s moved into The Bullring in 2012, having spent 11 years in a premise on Comberton Hill.

Annabella Harvey, aged 49, said: “I’m absolutely devastated that we have had to close. The council spent a lot of money on these works when they should have been spending it on supporting small, independent businesses like ourselves.

“The workers would store paving slabs, machinery and carry out work outside my shop and the noise and dust created had a huge, negative impact on us.

“In the couple of years before we were seeing profits go up but during the last 12 months, when the work was being carried out, we have seen revenue drop as much as 60 per cent.

“I tried to get our rateable value reduced but it is a long winded process. We were not offered anything from the council such as business rate relief.

“Trying to pay rents and bills was too much and we therefore had to close. We would have loved to have lasted through the Christmas period but we couldn’t. Trying to keep the business afloat made me ill through stress.

“We have run as a small family business for years with a wonderful customer base. I was inundated with flowers and card when I was ill. I want to reassure them that their property is secure and safe and they can arrange to get it back from me by calling 07494 373978.”

Councillor Ian Hardiman, cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration, said: “We are always very sorry to hear of a business closing in the town. This is the first that the council has heard of any issues relating to noise and dust affecting businesses.

“It would not be possible for such paving works to be carried out without having a compound in close proximity to where the works are being carried out and for there to be no machinery operating as part of the works; but the council and its contractor has worked hard to maintain ‘business as usual’ as far as possible.

“The council was not approached about offering any business rate relief. We will always do what it can to assist businesses, as indeed it has successfully for those who approached us, but if businesses don’t get in touch with us it doesn’t give us an opportunity to see what we can do to help.”