Plea to give cash to traders

Calls have been made for businesses impacted by social distancing barriers across Renfrewshire to be compensated for their loss of earnings.

Councillors Karen Kennedy and Jim Sharkey have filed a joint motion ahead of today’s full council meeting calling for the council to pay traders who have been impacted by the barriers.

The £ 105,000 project - which saw social distancing barricades installed across a number of areas in Renfrewshire - has received backlash from both councillors and business owners.

Councillor Kennedy, of Paisley’s Northwest ward, previously called for an investigation into the cash spent on the project after traders successfully lobbied the council to have them removed from Well Street.

She said the council should be held accountable for spending the cash without properly consulting businesses.

She previously told the Express: “If this money, which was given by the government, has been spent and now these barriers are being taken away, I think a question needs to be asked.

“I have asked the council about the costs of this and, so far, have had no explanation.

“Given how hard up Renfrewshire Council is at the minute, wasting money is not an option, no matter where the money came from.”

Businesses on Glasgow Road have also spoken out against the barriers, and those on Wellmeadow Street prompted a council U-turn on a £540,000 project that was also proposed as part of the Scottish Government Spaces For People Fund.

The motion being put forward by Councillors Kennedy and Sharkey, of Paisley Northeast and Ralston, reads: “Council regrets the disruption to the community and, in particular, the business owners who have been inconvenienced by the pedestrian barriers placed in Well Street, Wellmeadow Street and Glasgow Road.

“Council agrees that reasonable compensation should be paid to those businesses affected.”