THE owner of an independent gift shop in Andover has been left frustrated after the landlord of the building put up scaffolding outside the shop – partially blinding the wonderful Christmas decorations.

Georgina Roberts, who runs Mooch gift shop in Bridge Street, said in a Facebook post that the scaffolding was put up last Friday, November 18, without any notice.

She wrote: “Whilst we hope that this will rectify the ongoing problems (for over a year) with leaking ceilings, we cannot understand the timing as it is our most crucial trading period and just before the Andover Christmas Festival on Friday, November 25.

“It would also have been nice and polite to get some notice, but of course, we didn't.”

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Georgina said "it's scaffolding hell in the high street at the moment. And no work seems to be taking place either. We certainly haven’t seen a roofer using the scaffolding outside our shop yet."

Georgina, who has been a lease payer at the building for 24 years, said she is not giving up and will be decorating the scaffolding with tinsel and lights.

Mooch makes all the decorations for its window displays.

Vanderplank & Taylor Scaffolding Ltd, which has taken the subcontract for scaffolding works outside her shop, apologised for the wrong timing of the works and allowed Georgina to “decorate the scaffold” as she wishes to help with the shop.

Georgina thanked the scaffolding company for the considerate message and added she was in no way blaming them.

She said: “Please support us and other local businesses who try hard to make Andover look fabulous.”

Landlord Langdown Properties has been contacted for a comment.