Travel agents trading in flooded parts of the country say business will be “massively affected” even if only in the short-term.
Miles Morgan Travel owner Miles Morgan (pictured) said footfall to his shop in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, was down as a result of severe flooding in the town.
He said: “The flooding has had a catastrophic affect on business in Malmesbury generally so it’s massively affected our staff getting into work and customers coming into the shop. Takings will be down but it will be short-lived and the town will be back on its feet soon.”
Caroline Fenech, manager of the Malmesbury Miles Morgan branch, said it had taken her two and a half hours to get into work, a journey which normally takes 30 minutes, while it had taken her colleague an hour and a half to get into work.
“We wanted to come into to look after our clients. We do a lot of bookings over the telephone and have lots of regulars although for some in the town a holiday is now the last thing on their minds,” she added.
Courtney World Travel in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, shut for half an hour early yesterday (Tuesday) to allow staff more time to get home. Although the agency was not flooded, manager Stephanie Jepson said the flooding had had a knock-on affect on staff journeys to and from work.
“We are on slightly elevated ground but just round the corner all the houses have been flooded. Fewer people have ventured out into town and we are shutting early to allow staff to get home safely,” she said.