TRADERS are demanding compensation to help them survive during the 2012 roadworks blitz in Weymouth and Portland.

Restaurateur George Afedakis has launched a petition calling for a business rates freeze until the schedule of roadworks, gas mains replacement and waterworks ends next July.

Jewellery shop boss Toon Suksabai has also sent a letter round to all business in the town with a rallying call for them to lobby the council demanding a rates reduction and one day’s free car parking a week.

She also urged businesses and customers to sign Mr Afedakis’s petition to present a united front.

Former chamber of commerce president Mr Afedakis said: “It is terrible at the moment.

“We all understand that the Dorset County Council has to fix the roads but we have to survive as well.

“There has to be a balance and they have to understand our position and give us a helping hand us as well.

“They have to halt the business rates. We need a 100 per cent reduction until the roads are finished.”

Mr Afedakis, who runs the Adelphia Restaurant in St Thomas Street, added: “I am starting a petition and people can contact me about getting involved.

“We are more powerful if we work together.”

Businesses have warned that trade in the town has dropped with losses of up to £10,000 a week amid various works around the borough.

Mrs Suksabai who runs Esteem Jewellery in St Thomas Street with husband Stephen Laing, said: “I would encourage people to sign the petition, customers as well.

“We should put a petition in all of the shops. I am also contacting all of the shops as well and will tell them to get involved.”

The campaign comes as Wessex Water carries out repairs in Abbotsbury Road and Southern Gas Networks replace mains in Rodwell Road.

Dorset County Council is also turning the Harbour Roundabout in traffic lights and has been re-waterproofing the nearby road bridge and refurbishing its expansion joints.

Andrew Selby, who is director of Weymouth Angling Centre in Trinity Road, said: “I am all behind the petition.

“Some people are saying we need to sort out some sort of protest.

“A lot of business will struggle to get through until next July.

“Everybody is in the same petition. It is chaotic on the roads and people are avoiding town like the plague.”

Fiona Penny, of Sunflowers in St Thomas Street, added: “I think a petition is a good idea and I would encourage other businesses to get involved.”

Former town centre group chairman Shaun Hennessy called for a public meeting or inquiry into situation.

“This is the quietest period for years.

“Traders have worked professionally to build up goodwill but people won’t bother coming shopping in future.”

Steve Parker, who is the landlord of the Dorothy Inn, said: “It is a nightmare for some of the businesses in town.

“I think the council should sort out the rates as there is a real burden on some of the people at the moment.”

He added: “There’s a lot of work for just two to three weeks of the Olympics.

“It’s a lot of hassle now when Olympics might not even benefit Weymouth that much.”

Business rates are levied on business premises, with the annual rental cost among the criteria for the fees.

They are collected by Weymouth and Portland on behalf of central Government.

The money is pooled centrally and then redistributed to Dorset County Council as part of its funding for the year based on a population formula.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council collects about £14.57 million in business rates a year.

It has sent out leaflets advising firms of new help which was available from October 1, which allows 100 per cent exception on firms with a rateable value of under £6,000 and a sliding scale for firms with a value up to £12,000.

Coun Geoff Petherick, who is corporate affairs briefholder, said: “This has been received very positively.

“We are aware that some businesses wish to review their rates with the valuation office and we wish them every success.”