Fisherton Street: Business owners fear future as trade drops

Works to improve the street, as part of the Fisherton Gateway project, began on August 6 which is when it was temporarily made one-way.

Two months on, some traders have seen footfall drop by up to 60 per cent and say that every week is getting quieter.

Sections of the pavement on Fisherton Street are closed. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Paul Dauwalder, owner of Dauwalders' stamp shop, Speedy Print and No44 Homeworks, has been trading on the street for more than 40 years.

Paul Dauwalder said the works have decimated sales in his shops. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

The section of pavement on Mr Dauwalder's side of the road was the first to be dug up and replaced but he said that his shoppers are finding the area unsafe.

"It's a bit confusing for people who are not familiar with the area and it has decimated our sales," he added.

Mr Dauwalder claimed trade across his three businesses has dropped by around 40 to 50 per cent since the works began.

Businesses that can demonstrate losses can appeal to HMRC for a reduction in tax rates but evidence must be submitted demonstrating how the works have impacted upon trade.

Wiltshire Council cannot give compensation for disruption caused by highway works due to legislation.

Owner Nicola Stevens has worked at Pothecary tobacconists and newsagents for 30 years but fears this year may be her last.

Nicola Stevens doesn't know if her business will survive. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Despite benefitting from the footfall passing on her side of the road, Miss Stevens has seen fewer customers every week since the work began.

Work on the opposite pavement is due to begin in November and continue through Christmas and into the new year.

Miss Stevens said: "In the first week people were curious but now every week is getting quieter. I don't think I will have any customers at all when work starts on our side.

"I don't know if I'm going to survive."

Next door, sister Michelle Stevens at the Flamingo Restaurant is unhappy with the "general mess and upheaval" alongside the impact it's had on her older customers with disabilities.

Michelle Stevens said one of her regulars who used to come in three times a week now only comes once. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Drilling noises from the street can be inside the restaurant which Miss Stevens thinks is turning customers away.

The restaurant opens at 9am but sometimes Miss Stevens sees no customers until 11am, she said: "If we're not here when the work has finished, what's the point of spending millions on it?

"When it starts on this side it's going to be more trouble than ever."

Disruption and traffic across the city has been made worse since the Fisherton Gateway coincided with the River Park Project.

But Wiltshire Councillor Caroline Thomas, cabinet member for transport, said this overlap was "unavoidable". She added: "We generally try to avoid having two significant schemes in close proximity to each other on site at the same time.

"However, due to the funding timescales set by the government as part of the Future High Streets Fund, this has been unavoidable and the Fisherton Gateway works had to start this year."

Street parking and loading bays have been coned off for shoppers which Georgie Alban said is affecting Franklins sewing shop.

Fewer customers have been going to Franklins. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Miss Alban, who has worked at the shop for two years, has noticed a "big drop" in customers and busy days for the shop have become around 30 per cent quieter.

"We've had people phone up and ask when the works are going to end. When we tell them it'll take one year, they say they will see us in a year," she added.

Staff are having to carry sewing machines across the city since customers can no longer park outside in the loading bays.

Miss Alban said: "Customers don't like how noisy and disruptive it is. It's a matter of time before it's our turn to have work on our side and we're dreading it."

Cllr Caroline Thomas said she is disappointed to hear of local businesses facing difficulties when important highway improvements are being carried out.

She added: "To minimise any disruption caused by the one-way system for Fisherton Gateway we have avoided Castle Street, which is the diversion route for the River Park scheme.

"Before installing the one-way system, we also looked at traffic counts to determine the predominant direction of travel on Fisherton Street, which is towards the city centre, hence the one-way system being installed in that direction."