A charity shop manager finally saw red, quite literally, when ‘road ahead closed’ signs appeared in the street.

Marie Frost, who runs the 9lives furniture shop in Rickmansworth, says she has been already been through “18 months of hell” with a development to build 48 private apartments ongoing next door.

Ms Frost said the work has been an “utter nightmare” and says Wharf Lane has “continuously” been blocked by lorries and plant machinery, preventing customers from getting to her shop.

The manager, who has been there for 14 years, said she saw red when a ‘road closed’ sign appeared in Wharf Lane last week. It has since been moved to the pavement.

Watford Observer:

Lorries in Wharf Lane Picture: 9Lives

She said: “It has been a nightmare. This was a controversial application which was knocked back before it was eventually approved. But Wharf Lane has constantly been blocked. The work has put us in financial trouble and we have lost footfall.

“People see the work up the road or the closure signs and don’t bother travelling up and because the high street is one way, they don’t come back round again either. It has been 18 months of hell.”

Ms Frost has been supported by Three Rivers District Council who held a raffle night free of charge for 9Lives at the council chamber in the town.

Chairman of the council Phil Williams says he understands Ms Frost’s “frustrations”.

He said: “It is frustrating that a big company will try and destroy rather than help a small local charity. I don’t know how they can sleep at night.”

Watford Observer:

9lives is a charity shop selling second-hand furniture and household goods. The shop also runs restoration courses for people with learning disabilities.

St William, who are developing Elmswater, and are part of the larger Berkeley Group, say they have put in a number of measures over the last 18 months including installing advertising boards for 9Lives on site and at the front of the road, as well as providing free maintenance.

St William very recently donated £500 after meeting with the chairman of 9Lives while it organised for Thames Water to install “business open as usual signs” although these only appeared in the last week.

Watford Observer:

Ms Frost acknowledges some of the “good-will” measures but says the free maintenance accounts for a lock being fixed as well as a gate repair which was only necessary because of the ongoing development by St William.

She said: “We appreciate what they have done and grateful for the money received but all the proper signage should have been done right at the beginning.”

A spokeswoman for St William added: “We will continue to keep in close communication with 9Lives as we approach the conclusion of our works.”