Businesses hit by road closure
TAKINGS DROP AND STAFF HOURS ARE CUT AS PASSING TRADE DRIVEN AWAY
BUSINESS owners have spoken of their plight following the closure of a busy Derby road.
Kedleston Road has been shut since July 29 to be resurfaced, have fresh road markings painted, manhole covers replaced and drains repaired.
The works, taking place between Five Lamps and Broadway, are expected to continue until August 31.
Independent business owners inside the closure area have spoken of their struggles as trade continues to fall.
Yodi Piponidou, 47, owner of Kedleston Fish Bar, said: “Traffic is non-existent. There is no real passing trade any more.
“It’s knocked it on its legs. Trade is down at least 40 per cent.
“The road could have lasted how it was. The council could have done it in the next summer holidays.
“I think they might have been a little bit ambitious trying to follow Severn Trent trying to get the works done in the summer holidays.”
Mr Piponidou, of Allestree, said staff have been moved on to work at sister shop Nicky’s Fish Bar in Derby city centre due to the lack of trade.
George Piponidou, owner of neighbouring Sunshine Dry Cleaners and Laundry Services, said he has been forced to cut staff hours to stay afloat.
The 45-year-old, of Littleover, said: ““We have all been suffering as a result. I have dropped the girls’ hours just for this period – I cannot send them home, it’s not fair.
“There is nothing I can do. The girls have volunteered to take an hour off a day, which really helped. I am lucky in that respect.
“We cannot do any more than an hour – they have bills to pay, we have to take the loss and hope for the best.”
Manager at the dry cleaners, Janean Kenyon, 51, said that elderly people in particular had struggled to find their way to the store.
She said: “It’s been very quiet. I noticed the drop very quickly.
“I am getting customers ringing up saying they can’t get to us. There has been lots of people complaining about it.
“The old people rely on us every week to do things for them and they have no bus services in the town.
“We’re having to plan ahead with ordering things because we do not know which roads are going to be closed.”
Elen Glover, manager of Sam’s Barbers, said trade had fallen by around 40 per cent.
The 55-year-old said: “We’re quite lucky that we are a well-established business. We have our regulars.
“This is our main holiday season. Mums and children can’t get to us. There’s not a lot we can do about it. The university needs (the road improvements), and the houses need it.
“We were down about 20 per cent and now we’re down about 40 per cent.”
Councillor Jonathan Smale, cabinet member for communities, neighbourhoods and Streetpride, previously told the Derby Telegraph: “This is an essential and overdue piece of work. We do appreciate that closing roads is disruptive at any time of year and that journeys will be delayed.
“Our main aim is to get the work completed as quickly and safely as possible.
“If we do not complete this work now, we face even more costly repairs at a later stage, as the road deteriorates further. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.”