Sandy Row traders suffering from the effects of the Boyne Bridge closure have pleaded for help from Belfast City Council, with one businessman saying the place was either “log-jam or ghost town”.
At the December full meeting of the council, three workers gave a deputation to elected representatives, with two stating they had lost 30 and 40 percent of their business since the bridge closure, while another claimed the effects were “worse than Covid”.
Durham Street, which runs off Sandy Row, has been closed to allow for the dismantling of the Boyne Bridge, which is part of works relating to the creation of the new Grand Central Station, and the greater Weaver’s Cross plan for the area.
Translink has said the whole redevelopment will be completed by the end of 2025.
However the works have created great disruption in the area, both on a cultural and economic level, with local groups opposing the demolition of the Boyne Bridge due to its cultural and historical significance, as well as the works decimating effects on local trade.
Sarah McCusker, who owns Kut above k9 Grooming, told the chamber: “As a trader on Sandy Row, the closing of the Boyne Bridge on October 12 has caused our award-winning business to have a significant loss.
“Traffic disruption caused by the bridge closure has meant our customers can’t make it to appointments and therefore have to cancel at the last minute, often en route.
“Customers who do make it are often late – this causes a huge disruption to the day to day running of our appointment based business.
“My colleagues and I are having to change our business hours in order to try and work around the traffic. I am now opening the salon at 7.30am for earlier drop-offs in the hope our customers will miss the chaos.
“Between 4pm and 6pm traffic is at a standstill, meaning pick-up times can be up to an hour late. We are a service based business, we need to be accessible to our clients, or they will go elsewhere.
“With around a 30 percent loss in business from October and November, and the cost of keeping the premises open for longer hours, the reality of the situation is we will not be able to continue this for another ten months.”
Ben Allen, who runs Allens Tours and the TA Allen Furniture Shop at the crossroads of Sandy Row and Donegall Road, said: “The problem is people can’t get to us. It’s a log-jam one minute, and the place is a ghost town the next.
“I have actually had office staff who have had to quit over the last week, who were coming in from the likes of Banbridge, because they need to leave at five o’clock in the morning to get in before the traffic, and then they are not getting home until seven or half seven at night.”
He added: “We need rates relief – we are paying basically city centre rates in Sandy Row and the Donegall Road.
“And we have nothing now, no passing trade, we don’t even have any fairy lights or Christmas lights. This is worse than Covid.”
CJ McDowell, representing Kirks Home Bakery, told the chamber: “Two ladies who work in our shop are from Lisburn. Pre- Boyne Bridge closure the commute to and from their workplace was 20 minutes either way. That same 20 minute commute has turned into a two hour commute.
“I am sure some of you have the easy solution – public transport. You will be pleased to note these ladies now take public transport, at an extra cost of £160 a month. How is this feasible?”
After the council meeting, South Belfast MLA Edwin Poots said he had spoken to Translink and Belfast City Council, to determine what help could be provided for Sandy Row traders, and added the Stormont Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons was “prepared to look at a scheme to assist”.
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News Catch up – Tuesday 3 December