CHAOS IS SLAMMED
Worry for businesses as work on Avenue project continues to wreak havoc
A BUSINESS owner who has worked on Sauchiehall Street for more than 20 years, has said it is currently in the worst state he has ever seen it.
Paul Cardow, who has been involved in the development and running of several venues including Broadcast, The Garage and O2 ABC, says the once thriving street is now ‘horrendous’ due to issues with bins, redevelopment works and an illegal brothel.
The promoter and businessman said working on the street has become less about allowing people to enjoy themselves, and more about arguing with drug addicts, brothel customers and navigating mountains of bin bags in recent months.
Mr Cardow claims even the brothel had complained that the works were damaging footfall.
Businesses are calling for the council to step in to provide assistance before it’s too late as work on the Sauchiehall Street Avenue project moves into its sixth month.
Work on the multi-million project involves the creation of a multifunctional service verge, two-way cycle lane and wider pavements to make way for alfresco eating and drinking.
New bus shelters, cycle stands, seating and improved street lighting will also be installed on the street to make it more pedestrian friendly over the course of 18 months.
The work, which is being done on a block and block basis, has involved pavements being dug up and pedestrians unable to cross the road.
Businesses have raised concerns over the long-term impact the project will have on the number of businesses on the street.
As previously reported by the Evening Times, the owner of Glasgow’s last surviving independent cobbler warned that disruption caused by the improvement works is killing business and called on the council to slash rates.
George Rodgers, who has run Mac’s for more than 20 years and previously managed the Savoy Centre, fears his shop won’t survive until the £7.2million Avenue project is finished.
His fears have been echoed by Mr Cardow, who said businesses could buckle under the pressure.
He added: “We want the town to look better but shutting every business in the process is not the right idea.
“Trying to work on Sauchiehall Street at the moment is absolutely horrendous. I’ve been doing stuff here for nearly 30 years and this is the worst it has ever been.
“This job is meant to be about cheering people up but at the moment it is just arguing with junkies, arguing with people from the brothel and wondering why there is a mountain of bin bags on the street.
“The residents just throw their rubbish on the pavement and expect someone else to deal with it.
“We’re not struggling as much as others but the Saturday when customers had to find us from behind the bin bags and digger, it wasn’t one of our best Saturday nights.
“We’re very music and art led so people we’re not just the nearest pub, people come to us for a reason.
“They’ll go to an effort to find us but I can imagine if you’re a passing trade business, and there is no passing trade so you haven’t got a business”
Police Scotland is looking into an alleged business in a block of flats that is said to be operating as a brothel.
Mr Cardow said: “The brothel actually complained to us that the works were killing their footfall.
“It has been a nightmare for us and the council has been no help.”
As well as damaging the night time economy, local shop owners have also noticed a downturn in sales.
Paly Singh, manager of Lifestyle Express, said he has been losing around £2000 a week since the work began in January.
The shopkeeper, who has operated in Sauchiehall Street since 2014, said: “Since March I’ve lost a great deal of businesses mainly because there’s obstacles in the way of my shop now.
“People have to walk around barriers to get to us.
“The streets are so dirty with people just dumping bags, litter and cigarette stubs on the ground. I have to sweep up every morning.
“It’s costing me around £200 to £300 a day, so we’re really feeling the pinch.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “We are not aware of any economic impact on businesses as a result of the work on the Sauchiehall Avenue.
“There is no scope for discounting business rates as they are set at a national level.
“This project had the backing of the Sauchiehall BID since its inception and was developed in part through consultation with local residents and businesses on how best to develop the local area, and will deliver great benefit for local businesses on and around the Sauchiehall Avenue.”
‘‘ The brothel actually complained the works were killing their footfall