A FURIOUS family claim their once-thriving car repair business is struggling to survive due to a major redesign of one of Glasgow’s most iconic streets.
Graham’s Auto Centre on Byres Road has suffered a 60% slump in profits since work began in January to widen pavements, introduce cycle lanes and remove parking spaces.
Scott Richardson, whose grandfather Gordon founded the firm back in the 1970s, says that small business owners are being pushed to the brink of ruin if they don’t see a turnaround in footfall.
Scott, who previously called on Glasgow City Council bosses to put the brakes on the scheme amid fears it would cripple trade, said: “The local authority said that they would do the work one block at a time to minimise disruption, but that hasn’t happened. The whole bottom section of the road has been badly impacted, people are just giving it a wide berth.
“It’s not just drivers who are steering clear, it is pedestrians too because the whole place is a mess. This has meant bars, restaurants and cafes are all being hit as well as us.
“One restaurant across the road from us has called it a day and I wouldn’t be surprised to see others follow suit.
“Our cash flow is through the floor, and I just can’t see things turning around quickly enough. We were told the work would be finished by the end of July, but I just can’t see that being the case given how slowly things are progressing. We will try and hang on until then, but we really need an uplift in trade.
Scott says the threat to the firm's future would have left his grandfather heartbroken. Gordon, 86, passed away last October.
He added: “The shop was my granddad’s pride and joy. He passed it down to my dad and me and it has been here for over half a century.
“He worked so hard to build it up out of nothing and we rely on cars stopping right outside. My biggest fear is that if the ease of access was removed it would cripple us have sadly proved right.”
The Byres Road public realm project is jointly funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region Deal. The designs will result in the road space being reduced by approximately 30%.
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Scott, 30, added: “Some small businesses around here are going to need to look at relocating. Byres Road has always been popular because of the hustle and bustle around the place, but this part has become a no-go zone."
The major West End revamp includes a reduced speed limit of 20mph along with additional seating, upgraded pathways and an improved cycling infrastructure to encourage people to leave their cars at home. It also aims to give priority to residents by preventing commuters and shoppers from parking all day.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman added: “The work on the southern part of Byres Road and Church Street will significantly improve the public realm there and bring a range of benefits to the area. While we cannot comment on individual cases, there are a number of factors - including the cost of living crisis - that mean many businesses facing challenging trading conditions.
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“We are working with the Byres Road Business Improvement District (BID) - based in a unit towards the bottom of the street - to address any issues raised by local companies and have supported their Byres Road is Open For Business campaign. A degree of disruption is to be expected as a result of the delivery of these improvement works, but it must be emphasised that Byres Road has remained open at all times throughout the works and access has been maintained to all premises and visitors to the area are also able to use parking bays in the side streets that adjoin Byres Road.
“While it is necessary at this time to suspend some parking in and around the works areas to provide safe working areas and manage traffic flow, over 70 on-street parking bays are available on other parts of Byres Road, and we will identify which parking bays can be reinstated as the works progress. The completion date for this work remains July 2024, as stated ahead of the project beginning.”
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