A TOWN centre landlady is angry with the Regent Circus developer for not repairing damage caused during the building of the leisure centre.

Antoinette Kerrigan runs Byron’s bar, next to Regent Circus, which opened in the spring.

She claims the construction of the multi-million pound development made her life hell, with the bar losing £26,000 in trade as Byron Street, where the pub is based, was regularly closed, while the building work led to it flooding twice and the water being turned off five times.

She also claims large cracks have formed on the exterior of the building.

Antoinette has spent more than a year trying to discuss the problems with developer ISG without any progress being made.

“I was told they would sort out payments owed for electricity and water while they also promised me repair work,” she said.

“I feel the way that they have treated me is disgraceful. They promised me they would so these things and they haven’t [kept the promise].”

The work building Regent Circus, which houses a cinema, Morrisons and chain restaurants, also caused damage to the Rehoboth Strict Baptist Chapel, in Prospect Hill, forcing the centre to close its doors and move services elsewhere for several months.

ISG has agreed to pay for the repairs at the chapel and work on that started last month.

Antoinette said: “I thought the public would be interested to know about the problems that have been caused in the community.

“I think it is disgraceful that ISG has just worked away and left so much damage in the town.”

The landlady had hoped to get the repairs, sorted before the busy summer months but that now looks unlikely.

She said: “Obviously there’s substantial damage to the exterior which we want to get sorted and then painted.

“Since Regent Circus opened I wouldn’t say we’ve welcomed new business from the centre but I’d say that our old customers have now returned.

“Many of them thought we were closed while the building work was going on.”

Antoinette claims the developer’s contractors were turning customers away from the bar.

The Adver has approached ISG for comment.