TRADERS’ FEARS OVER ‘GHOST TOWN’

Mar 18 2008 Paisley Daily Express

WORRIED town centre traders fear they will go out of business because concerns over a dangerous tenement have driven hordes of shoppers away.

Turnover at some of the stores has been slashed by more than 50 per cent and bosses insist they will have to close down for good if the severe hardship goes on much longer.

The crisis has been caused by the decision to close part of Johnstone’s High Street because a crumbling building has been branded a danger to the public.

One shop owner, who runs a children’s clothing store, has revealed that, in one trading day, she took in less than £28.

She added: “This is ruinous and it just can’t go on any longer. We can’t survive on these takings. No-one can.”

The misery for traders began in early January when masonry fell from the roof of a two-storey tenement at 68 High Street, narrowly missing shoppers walking below.

During the next few weeks, a 100-yard stretch of High Street was closed off near to the junction with MacDowall Street.

Then one side of the road was re-opened to single lane traffic. Diversions were set up, congestion led to 20-minute delays and vehicles were not allowed to park, even for a few moments.

Traders insist that passing trade is non-existent and the area, which was once thriving, is now like a “ghost town”.

Mhairi Wylie, who runs the Magic Happens shop, said: “There’s certainly nothing magical about business at the moment. I reckon my turnover is down by about 70 per cent on the same time last year.

“Over the festive period, business was healthy and I was pleased, but now it’s disastrous and, if it continues, closure is a possibility. I can’t rule that out and other businesses in this part of High Street are fearing the same.”

Mhairi believes that at least £35,000 has been spent on shoring-up the dangerous building and manpower costs.

She added: “I haven’t seen anyone working at the site for about a month and I want to know why.”

Lesley Rhodden, boss at The Flower Pot shop, has been in business for more than 20 years and said things have never been so bad.

She added: “Trade is anything but rosy. It’s disastrous. This part of the High Street is like a ghost town. There is only one-way traffic and vehicles aren’t allowed to stop. With nowhere to park, shoppers are going elsewhere.

“In my experience, once you lose customers, it’s very hard to get them back. I’m extremely worried and so are all the traders in this part of the High Street.”

Catherine Tenney, of Johnstone’s Alterations and Repairs, added: “What are Renfrewshire Council doing to help the shopkeepers here? As far as I can see, absolutely nothing.

“Our livelihood is at stake and the council should be doing more to help us.”

Butcher Ronald Mackenzie reckons his trade is down by about 20 per cent.

He said: “We are all very concerned about our future.”

Anne McMeechan, who runs Katie’s Children Wear, added: “My husband has had to leave the shop and get another job so we can make ends meet.”

Lots For Less shop boss James Ralston is now operating from temporary premises in MacDowall Street because his former store is part of the propped-up tenement.

He said: “Takings are down by 65 per cent since moving here. The sooner I’m back in my original premises, the better.

“Where I am at the moment is hopeless.”

A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said they are keen to resolve the problem in the High Street as quickly as possible.

He added: “We have been holding weekly meetings with the owners to try to get the building repaired and the shoring up removed. We have issued the owners with a Dangerous Building notice.

“This means the owners have to repair the building or the council will arrange to have the work done and then charge them for it.”