Stirling business owner left reeling as road closure sees his takings plummet

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A city centre trader has been left reeling over a road closure that has seen him lose more than £8,000 in just six weeks.A ‘safety zone’ was put in place in Port Street over fears surrounding falling masonry from a building there back in December.The problems with the crumbling building were first identified on December 16 and by December 20 Stirling Council had implemented a road closure on the southbound carriageway – from Upper Craigs to King’s Park Road – as well as the footway in front of the affected property.Mark Ritchie owns the Ginger Roots Greengrocers and Fruiterers store, which sits directly below the affected property, and access to the front of his shop has been halted.

Instead scaffolding surrounds the shop, with the only access via a side door through a lane.In total, four businesses have been impacted, but Mr Ritchie’s business has been hit harder than others.The affected building is privately owned, but Stirling Council is required by law to take action and carry out work to protect the public i,n or in places adjacent to, a dangerous building under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.Mr Ritchie then lost out on vital Christmas and New Year trade after the scaffolding was erected, giving the appearance that the shop was closed.Speaking to the Observer this week, Mr Ritchie said: “The business has been hugely affected.

Losing the front entrance to the shop, trying to use a side entrance without proper signage and all the fencing in place didn’t really work hence why I moved outside to the lane.

Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area. “Although the week before Christmas is our busiest week, new year and the first two weeks of January are also busy as everyone tries to detox and eat