Building dropped several inches after police chase crash

Michael’s Workwear LTD of Cricklade Road was left in disarray after it was struck by a black Honda Civic in the early hours of Saturday, March 4.

The car failed to stop for police officers and proceeded to smash into the shopfront, causing serious damage to the inside and outside of the building.

Shop manager Mikey Titcombe spoke to the Adver about what life has been like in the aftermath of the incident which left the company without a home.

“In a way we’ve tried to leave it to one side after temporarily moving locations,” said the 37-year-old.

“The front has been tidied now by local company ESS, who have cleared all the rubble and put boarding up as well as fencing it off and taking away the mangled shutter so that it isn’t quite as much of an eyesore.”

Both Mikey and shop assistant Jake Webster have returned to the shop since and still remain shocked over the level of damage endured by the building.

“We pop back occasionally as we need to move some stuff as they are going to close off half of it when they start the work,” said Mikey.

Jake added: “When you go upstairs there’s a gap where you can see right through to outside where the floor has dropped about three inches.

“One side of the building where the impact was and caused the building to drop. The structural engineer said it is very fortunate that it didn’t reverberate as it could have been a lot worse.”

This is the current state of Michael's Workwear LTD. (Image: Newsquest)

The business has now moved into a temporary location at a unit in Powdrill Business Park on West End Road after the space was offered by a long-time friend of the company.

“My dad has known the man who runs Duncan Self Drive LTD and owns the new location, with them going back quite a way and helping each other over the years,” said Mikey.

“So when he heard what had happened, he gave us a ring and offered the space and they’re charging us a really good rate so we’re very grateful.”

“It is different and obviously we’ve got a lot more space than when we were operating from home but we still don’t have a shopfront but we can now invite customers in to try things on,” added Mikey.

Michael's Workwear LTD on Cricklade Road remains fenced off to the public. (Image: Newsquest)

It remains unforeseen as to when Michael’s Workwear LTD will return to its former location.

“The insurance company are gathering quotes for the building work to be done and they reckon that’ll take a few weeks and after that around 12 weeks they reckon,” said Mikey.

“So I think it will be four to five months in this temporary location.”