Businesses split over renovations disruption

Jamie MacDonald • Published 17 Feb 2010 11:19 1 Comment

RENOVATION work in Alloa town centre continues to divide opinion with one businessman claiming the work has cost him a packet whilst another has praised those involved.

Local butcher Andy Sinclair contacted the Advertiser after work on Friday saw Primrose Lane, next to the Speirs Centre, closed and signage work begin outside his shop on Primrose Street.

He said, "Friday is my busiest day. Nobody can get down the lane, there are barriers everywhere - who is going to come down the street when it is like this?

"There was no warning of this and I have bought all this meat for the weekend but if it doesn't sell it will have to go in the bucket. I've told them Monday and Tuesday are my quiet days."

In the afternoon, after being shut for two hours, a passageway from King Street car park to Primrose Street re-opened along the lane.

However, Mr Sinclair is adamant that the weekend's work has cost him dear.

He said, "Trade was down over the weekend. We had bought in extra to sell for Valentine's Day but bags of meat have had to be thrown out, I have lost about £500."

David Westland, owner of the Star Inn on Drysdale Street, has a contrasting experience of the street repairs carried out as part of the town centre's regeneration work.

Mr Westland had problems with the plumbing of his premises for a sustained period of time. Plumbers thought the issues were down to the age of the building and its old pipes but when the pavement was dug up to lay the new paving stones a different cause was diagnosed.

Mr Westland said, "We had companies coming out with drainage rods every six to eight weeks. We used to get pipe blockages put down to the age of the building but it turned out to be repairs carried out on a sewage pipe outside that wasn't up to standard."

Staff carrying out the street work spotted the leaking pipe and rather than waste time establishing who was to blame and whose responsibility it was, they sorted it themselves.

Mr Westland added, "I wouldn't have thought that would be in their remit but rather than hold up the job they got on and fixed it. It is fantastic and goes above and beyond the job."

The town centre work has been a controversial topic in recent months. In November, John Mylchreest, from X-Change music shop, complained about the state of the street as a result of the work to relay the pavements.

The following month Billy Lee, from Jem Music, hit out after he claimed his shop became cut off from the rest of Drysdale Street and music students could not get in for lessons.

Speaking of Mr Sinclair's complaints council leader Janet Cadenhead said contractors had done a good job of communicating with traders.

She added, "We're sorry that Mr Sinclair feels his business has suffered. We closed Primrose Lane for two hours only to allow for essential work to be undertaken. We also made sure that an alternative pedestrian route was clearly marked for anyone parking behind the Speirs Centre."

Ms Cadenhead continued, "We're spending £2.4 million on the town centre and despite the cold weather work has progressed and remains on schedule for the end of March.

"Many other construction projects in Scotland ground to a halt during the severe weather, so we are fortunate to have such committed contractors working here in Alloa."

There will be a temporary road closure of Primrose Street this Sunday and Monday so the road can be resurfaced.

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