A TRADER has hit out at a move to extend a contract held with the company behind Harrow Town Centre roadworks that overran.

The make over of Station Road left roadworks obscuring shop fronts and should have been finished in October but will go on for around another two weeks.

The owners of small businesses say it decimated their takings, forced some out of the area and brought many to the brink of collapse.

EnterpriseMouchel, the company which carried out the work, will remain in charge of roadworks elsewhere in the borough for another nine months after a decision by Harrow Council's Labour adminstration on Thursday.

The extension is intended to pave the way for a look at the contract and could eventually see a new firm hired in place of the company.

Tamer Izzet, owner of Cafe Express, said: “They should have changed the company because the quicker work gets finished the better it is for them as well.

“A lot of places have closed down. My father had to sell land in Cyprus, he's had that land from his parents parents.

“It was an orange farm but it's a couple of thousand pounds and he's helped me out. It's very bad at the moment but what can we do?”

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, responsible for major contracts, said: “Balancing the books this year has been a challenge, and it isn’t going to get any easier over the next few years, as government cuts continue to bite.

“So it’s important that we look carefully at all of our major contracts.

“This is one of the biggest contracts within the Council and it’s vital we take our time and make sure we get the very best value for money for our residents. Extending the existing contract for nine months will give us time to examine all our options, while maintaining high standards.”