Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Re-open road say businesses
Fire damage restricts trade in street
Frustrated business owners around Academy Street in Coatbridge are calling for action to be taken to re-open the road – which has been closed off for six months following a nearby fire.
Barriers are still in place at the road’s junction with Main Street to create a required exclusion zone around a badly damaged building which was ravaged by fire in March, while discussions continue between owners of the properties and North Lanarkshire Council about demolition plans.
All of the units on Academy Street and further down Main Street are open as usual - but with no traffic access to and from the south end of the street and only one pavement being accessible, traders say their businesses are being affected as customers stay away and deliveries and appointments are impacted.
They have now signed a petition calling on council officials to demolish the damaged building urgently, dealing later with the issues of costs and legal agreements, in order to re-open the road as soon as possible instead of the current position of no timescale having been given.
Petition organiser Cliff Kesley, who owns cafe Granny’s Kitchen, said: “It looks to customers as if the street is closed completely.
“We saw footfall reduce by 20 to 25 per cent in the first two weeks after the barriers went in place.
“Suppliers struggle to get back out when they’ve come in for deliveries, and people are realising it’s a hassle to reach here in the car and they can’t get parked.
“We’re working hard to try and recover from that, with things like flyers and special offers, but this street has really taken the brunt of the closure.
“Businesses have different requirements as some, like here and The Mint, are very footfall dependent, while the service businesses are more appointment- based with people looking for a convenient place to get out of their cars.
“If the building owners can’t agree on the costs, then the council need to come in, demolish it to make it safe and review the road closure and then pursue the costs.
“Having it closed for this length of time flies in the face of a commitment to town centre regeneration.”
Neighbour Lorna McGowan, of Uppercutz hairdressers, added: “Simple things like bringing in stock are really difficult because delivery vans can’t easily turn around in the street, and parking on the main road causes an obstruction.
“Clients can’t park outside and a lot have said that when they walked up, they thought the whole street was closed and weren’t going to come in – there’s definitely a difference in footfall.
“It’s a worry as the fire- damaged building is an accident waiting to happen and we want to be proud of our town centre. But these barriers put people off and affect the whole of Main Street.”
Coatbridge Chiropractic owner William Morgan said: “The main impact for us is that a lot of elderly patients can’t get in or out of the street because there’s no access, and they’re saying they’ll go and find somewhere else.”
Sofia Muneer of Homemakers, round the corner on Main Street, added: “It’s abysmal. I’m not taking on extra staff as I usually would at this time. You can look around and see the impact as people think there’s no access to this area.”
Mohammed Asif of Phone Shak added: “It’s very tough. This part of the street is now very quiet.”
The traders’ petition, due to be considered by councillors next week, calls the months of closure “totally unacceptable” and criticises a “lack of action and communication” from the local authority.
It calls on them to knock the building down and then recover the costs, saying: “Not to proceed immediately would be the wrong decision.
“Unless the access issue is urgently resolved, the lack of action will lead to job losses and potential damage to businesses.”
The traders are being supported by Coatbridge North councillor Allan Stubbs, who said: “Something has to be done now, as closure for this long isn’t sustainable.
“It’s quite clear businesses are suffering and there are jobs at risk, not just that there’s a general nuisance to traffic.
“This is right at the start of the town centre and the first thing people see is barriers and a half- demolished building.”
A spokesperson for Nor th Lanarkshire Council said: “The roads have been closed since the fire to create a safe area around the damaged building and protect the public.
“Although responsibility for the building lies with the owners, the council has been working with their agents to assist with plans for demolition of the building and the long-term future of the site.
“The situation has been complicated by the number of owners involved and the associated legal issues.”
Clients can’t park outside and a lot have said they thought the whole street was closed