TRADERS in Levenshulme say their businesses are struggling to survive because roadworks are killing off passing trade.
Contractors have been working on Stockport Road for the past two months, with access closed along one side and pavements obstructed as gas pipes are replaced.
But traders along Levenshulme’s main road say the work – scheduled to take a year - is moving so slowly they may not be open by the time it finishes.
Michael Lyons, who owns Isis Cafe with his wife Sa-Nguan, said: "We know this work needs to be done but we feel it is being done without any consideration for the people affected by it – this whole area is being choked.
"Sometimes there are only two men working on the site at a time – surely it could be finished quicker if there were more of them.
"The roadworks mean it is very difficult to drive in and out of Levenshulme and this is killing off passing trade.
"Economic conditions are tough enough for independent businesses at the moment without these roadworks dragging on for a year.
"If it was outside Buckingham Palace would it take this long? I don’t think so."
Monica Johnson, who has owned Johnson’s Butchers for 28 years, said: "We are losing trade every day because of roadworks, in fact it has gone from bad to worse.
"It is a battle to stay open anyway at the moment and this is making it much harder."
A spokesperson for the National Grid said: "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused but the work we are carrying out is essential for the main gas supplies in the area.
"We do offer a compensation scheme so if any business owners do feel they have been impacted by the work they can contact us and we will investigate whether they would be eligible for compensation.
"They can request a compensation form by contacting our customer service help line."
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Levenshulme always seems to be neglected by the council and now it's being badly affected by the incompetence of national grid subcontractors. The work in this area is progressing extremely slowly, the buses have been messed around no end. The 192 bus service, which is already shoddy and ill run is even worse due to the traffic jams. The other bus services are almost non existent due to the changes to their routes. Manchester City Council insists on giving licenses to dubious premises of bookies, 'colleges' and fast food takeaways in this area without any checks. The local community of regular shops, shopkeepers, butchers, grocers, florists, hairdressers and cafe's is being completely destroyed in Levenshulme because of these roadworks.
And again, we read of the Metrolink and new stops scheduled for other areas of South Manchester...but not the busy A6 corridor...When is the town hall going to pull it's finger out?