Raid spells even more problems for Bognor Regis firm

Mr Growcott’s Music Workshop and Warehouse was broken into at 1.15am on Tuesday (November 8).

The burglar caused about £1,000 of damage to one of the windows and its metal grid at the premises on the corner of Hawthorn Road and Essex Road.

The till was also stolen and the £30-40 it contained.

Mr Growcott said: “I can’t help but think someone up there is against us.

“Maybe we should just shut up shop and go. It’s getting to that point.”

Mr Growcott was featured in the Observer a month ago, with some of his neighbouring business owners, protesting about the presence of gas works outside their shops.

Southern Gas Networks has been installing new pipes since October 17 and will continue until December 19 to shut a large section of Hawthorn Road.

“The gasworks are still causing us a problem,” said Mr Growcott.

“The first week of them we probably had four or five customers.

“It’s pretty much stayed at that level ever since.

“We are sitting around twiddling our thumbs most of the time until someone comes in.

“It’s usually someone familiar with where we are. It’s the people who don’t know that who will probably not bother to find their way past the closure.”

His complaints led to a shorter diversion via Linden Road, instead of the seafront, being put in place after about a fortnight to make it easier for people to visit the businesses.

Southern Gas Networks says the work is essential because the previous iron gas main and services are worn out.