A WOODSTOCK construction industry boss has created the 'first petition of its kind' to protect the building industry from late payments.

Arron Bowman-Smith, director of Witney-based Lionheart Group, is calling for payments for signed off work after the agreed date to be made against the law and subject to a fine.

The company is a labour supplier for building projects. 

He said: "Since I started I've been chasing people around.

"It’s affecting the construction industry in an extremely negative way, people are losing their livelihoods through no fault of their own. We need to put a stop to it once and for all."

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The petition has 672 signatures and needs 10,000 for the government to respond.

It will run until August 8 this year. To sign, go to https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/238240