‘Town centre revamp work is driving away customers’
SALES FALL AS NOISE OF PAVEMENT BEING TORN UP HITS SHOE SHOP’S PASSING TRADE
A SHOP owner says her business is being badly hit by the disruption caused by work on improving the area.
Hannah Holmes runs Room for Shoes, a shoe and home furnishings store in Ward’s End, in Loughborough town centre.
The pavement outside her shop is being replaced as part of the £2.6 million Bedford Square Gateway Project. The shopping street will eventually be entirely repaved.
The scheme also includes improvements to Bedford Square, Ward’s End and Devonshire Square, in an effort to make the area more attractive and increase footfall.
But Ms Holmes says the noise from the works is driving customers away, with as few as 10 people a day sometimes coming through the door.
Sales have plummeted since the works started in February and she was considering closing up until the work is finished. But she decided to buy in new winter stock and keep the business going, partly to maintain a good relationship with her suppliers.
She said: “I can’t cancel my orders and pick it up six months later.
“I have already asked for a bit of leeway with my winter stock.
“It has financial implications for them the suppliers. We order far ahead, it’s all made to order.
“I can’t keep the same stock in when the seasons change. It forces me to invest in more stock, which I don’t have the money for.”
She also employs someone else to help her in the shop and she fears she would lose them if they had to close down temporarily.
Charnwood Borough Council overseeing the project.
A spokesman said: “Paving work is under way on the west side of Ward’s End and therefore the old paving is being removed. This work is due to be completed by early November.
“The whole purpose of the scheme is to make the town centre more attractive to visitors, increase footfall and support local businesses.
“The widening of pavements and making public areas more attractive will make this a more comfortable, and safer destination for shoppers and increase footfall for businesses.”