High streets lie empty as Scots stay at home

‘Millions being lost to the economy’

TOWN centres were deserted again yesterday after thousands of workers remained at home to avoid the chaos of the rail strike.

Many shunned the commute entirely, prompting fresh concern for the future of high street businesses.

Satnav company TomTom said congestion on Glasgow’s roads was significantly down on last week. Meanwhile, broadband provider Virgin Media O2 said it recorded an increase in wi-fi usage, indicating ‘millions more people are working from home’ this week. The company said usage spiked by up to 10 per cent on Tuesday, the first day of the strike.

Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said its members had seen trade plummet.

He said: ‘It has been a noticeable drop off. Most people are working from home, that’s what we’re getting back from members. The buses can’t pick up the slack. even if there are train services they are very restricted, If there are no trains or if the last train home is 6.30pm, people won’t bother going out at all and who can blame them, nobody wants to be worrying about how they will get home.’

The situation has prompted stark warnings from other retail and hospitality chiefs, who said the slump in footfall will hit already struggling businesses.

Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: ‘Due to the rail strikes, many will choose to drive to work or stay at home. This will mean that the retail sector misses out on both day visitors and office workers who will not be travelling into work this week, impacting high street footfall and shopping centres.’

‘This is likely to result in millions being lost to the Scottish economy. As businesses look ahead to what should be a summer boom for footfall and trade, the risk of further disruption could put off shoppers and plummet confidence for our town and city centre businesses.

‘All parties involved must get round the table to swiftly resolve the current dispute then work to restore Scotland’s rail timetable to full connectivity.’

Meanwhile hospitality bosses estimate that the uncertainty of travel during the strikes this week could cost the sector £50million.

UKHospitality Scotland executive director Leon Thompson said: ‘The rail strike is proving to be extremely damaging to hospitality businesses in Scotland. Three days of action has led to a week of cancellations for hospitality. City centre businesses are already grappling with reduced footfall as office workers continue with hybrid working patterns.

‘The rail strikes have reduced that even further, leaving businesses in an even tougher place.’

There are also concerns the weekend is unlikely to provide any reprieve, since further strikes planned.

David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: ‘The rail strike on Saturday will be damaging for many retail stores in city centres as it will limit customer traffic.

‘Shopper footfall is already down on pre-pandemic levels, and this will only slow the progress retailers have made to bring people back in-store.’

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: ‘We have now had two days of drastic and disruptive strikes, yet it looks as though we’re no nearer to reaching a solution.

‘For every day that this chaos continues, ordinary travellers and small businesses will continue to suffer.’