Alexandria’s Put up Workplace and store could possibly be compelled to close as a result of roadworks linked to a city centre revamp have “killed footfall”.
Proprietor Zunair Butt mentioned he's working two jobs to make ends meet and faces having to shut for good if the council don’t step in to assist.
The Essential Road enterprise is one in every of a quantity hit laborious by the work.
As a part of a £12million masterplan to rework the Vale, the long-lasting Smollett Fountain is at the moment present process restoration, Essential Road is being reprofiled and the eyesore Mitchell Method buying precinct is being demolished.
It's anticipated that the works, which acquired underway in Might, will stay in place till November.
Merchants within the Vale had beforehand expressed considerations a couple of lack of assist and the influence of roadworks on native companies, warning “there's a actual danger that there gained’t be a city centre after this refurbishment”.
West Dunbartonshire Council says that it has taken steps to minimise the influence on merchants.
Nonetheless, final month the Labour administration voted towards a Neighborhood Get together movement, backed by the SNP, for common hire abatements for small companies in Alexandria.
Zunair, who runs the Way of life Categorical retailer and Put up Workplace, advised the Lennox: “I’m attempting to maintain the enterprise open because it’s my household’s livelihood and I’m struggling in the mean time.
“The council don’t assist anybody and it’s been like this since I took the enterprise on.
“The roadworks have completely killed my footfall. I’m having to work two jobs to pay my payments in the mean time.”
Sian Wilkie of Alexandria Merchants Affiliation, beforehand warned of the dire scenario dealing with small companies.
She mentioned this week: “Issues are getting very determined simply now.
“I actually don’t perceive why the council is taking so lengthy to take motion.
“They're attempting to behave like a extra complete assist package deal was coming, we've got seen nothing.
“There's a actual danger that there gained’t be a city centre after this refurbishment.”
Cathy Greig of the Vale of Leven Credit score Union on Financial institution Road added that two-thirds of their clients are actually on-line, diverting cash away from the Excessive Road.
She mentioned: “Something that causes a wee little bit of aggravation when attempting to get into the premises in Alexandria usually causes one other wee inflow of individuals going surfing.
“We first seen it after they took Creuval Courtroom down. The site visitors was chaos.
“We had the beginning of individuals saying they’d arrange a standing order or get in contact by e mail.
“That solely went on for just a few weeks. This has been occurring for 5 months.”
While Neighborhood Get together member Jim Bollan took purpose at West Dunbartonshire’s Labour group for voting towards hire abatement proposals.
At a full assembly of West Dunbartonshire Council final month, Councillor Bollan submitted a movement calling on hire to be suspended for household companies for the 26-week period of works.
Nonetheless, his movement was defeated, with Labour as a substitute saying
that they may concentrate on extra focused assist.
Councillor Bollan mentioned: “It’s devastating information that the principle Put up Workplace in Alexandria is to close.
“Labour have been in workplace for 2 months, however consider they're already the fountain of all data and have all of the solutions.
“The hire abatement the Neighborhood Get together known as for must be applied urgently to try to save the Put up Workplace and different small retailers getting ready to closure.”
Damon Scott, chief govt, of Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce, mentioned: “That is an extremely worrying scenario that the native companies are being confronted with they usually want all of the assist they will get from companions in addition to the local people.
“The decision from the merchants for a complete vary of assist remains to be the identical because it was however these measures have gotten much more pressing and significant – in any other case a few of these companies merely gained’t survive.
“While a major hire rebate might go some method to serving to these in council-owned buildings the privately owned premises are crying out for motion to assist them save their companies.
“The Chamber will proceed the Loves Native marketing campaign exercise to spotlight among the great native companies we've got within the space and to push the merchants’ affiliation Save Alexandria – Store Native message however we recognise the decision to ‘use them or lose them’ isn’t sufficient on its
personal.”
A spokeswoman for WDC mentioned: “Intensive consultations have been held with merchants previous to works beginning and we've got taken steps to minimise influence together with by putting in clear signage advising companies are open as regular.
“We're dedicated to creating constructive adjustments in Alexandria for the advantage of all residents, and when full this mission will enhance pedestrian and bicycle owner security and create a pretty and welcoming city centre, celebrating the B-listed Smollett Fountain because the Coronary heart of the Vale.”