Businesses hit out as barricades lead to fall in customers

Business owners took to the street this morning with protest plaques as they made calls to the council to take down the barriers – which they described as having a “detrimental” impact on their customer footfall.

Since the barricades were put in place, shop owners have seen their takings drop by as much as 40 per cent as customers can’t park their cars as they would along the stretch in front of their shops.

Dezmond Barr, who owns Sinclair Barr Newsagents and who is also spearheading the campaign, told the Glasgow Times: “After the hard last two months we have just had, our businesses are just starting to get back on their feet and we have now had these bollards ­imposed on us.

“There has been no consultation around the damaging impact these barriers will have on businesses in this area. There has been no detail of what the council are hoping to achieve from them.

“As business owners, each and every one of us is taking Covid-19 very seriously and we are adapting to make our businesses safe for our customers and employees. We’ve got no wish to be at heads with the council but it is hard when they make decisions that turn out to be detrimental for our business

livelihoods.”

The social distancing barriers are part of a £105,000 Spaces For People project that is meant to ­create an extra-wide pathway for pedestrians and cyclists.

One business owner named Jamie Henderson, who had to transform his shop in order to stay afloat, described the installation of the barriers as the “final nail in the coffin” for his eatery.

He said: “My business actually had to flip and reinvent itself after the barriers were installed. It was the final nail in the coffin for us if we didn’t reshape.”

Meanwhile, Hayley Barnes who owns So Beau beauty salon, told how her business is now inaccessible to elderly and disabled people due to the installation of the barriers. She said: “As well as causing us a loss to our business, it has massively affected my disabled clients who now can’t get in and out of my salon which is the last thing I want.

“We weren’t consulted and we were told they were going to be here for a matter of days… two months later, they’re still here.

“In that two months, I’ve noticed my footfall drop around 30 to 40 per cent. We just want them to be removed.”

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “We’re sorry to hear of the issues being raised in relation to temporary barriers installed to widen the footway to enable physical distancing to take place, recognising the narrow pavement at this location which is a busy area, with a secondary school nearby.

“Unfortunately a press release on behalf of business owners relating to this has a number of inaccuracies which detracts from the important issues facing local businesses.

“To help clarify, neither Police Scotland nor Sustrans have raised any safety issues with us and the widened pavement is not a cycle lane, while no lane on Glasgow Road has been removed to accommodate the barriers and access to the bus stop has been maintained.

“We appreciate the importance of having parking available to access local facilities and there is ample parking at this location, both on the opposite side and elsewhere on Glasgow Road, on adjacent streets and at off-street car parks behind some of the businesses mentioned.

“Affected businesses were visited and notified in advance of the barriers being installed and again following their implementation, with their views considered alongside a review we commissioned to consider any improvements.

“This review has highlighted no safety concerns and we will take forward its recommendations in consultation with Sustrans and local business owners.”