'This city is losing its identity as independent businesses are closing'

City centre businesses in Leeds have said "infuriating" construction projects and roadworks are putting their future at risk.

The warning comes after café Mrs Atha's announced it was closing after 12 years in business.

Three doors along on Central Road is pub and bar Brownhill and Co, whose owner Richard Brownhill, says a two-year construction project and partial closure of the street has put his business at risk.

"It's time for us to shout about it. We've tried to be understanding, they [Leeds City Council] were improving the road but the way we're being dealt with as an independent business isn't on," he says.

The firm has been operating on the road for six years, but Mr Brownhill says revenue is down 30% since developers began work on student flat complex Store House two years ago.

Leeds City Council says it is not responsible for the demolition and rebuild of the former House of Fraser building and has supported the neighbouring businesses.

Mr Brownhill says: "Half the road is cut off, there's no pavement for people to walk down, from either end of the road it looks like a building site and the only vehicles that come down here are huge concrete trucks."

He said this year would be the third summer of works.

"The first summer was the demolition and we couldn't have any trade outside, the second summer they were doing the building so there was a lot of concrete trucks coming down and queuing up along the road for big parts of the day. This summer they're going to be tearing up the road to relay it," he adds.

Warren Jones ran café Mrs Atha's for more than a decade. Writing on social media, he described the last two years as the "cruellest and most infuriating time".

He says: "For 12 years we have been here - 10 of which we kept it ticking over quite nicely thank you very much. This building site opposite has ruined us. Slowly. Painfully. But so absolutely.

"I could go on endlessly about all the times we have asked for help from these people. The amount of damage they have caused."

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council says they recognise the "immense value" of independent businesses and are sorry to hear of the cafe's closure.

"We always endeavour to work with any businesses affected by construction work and offer whatever support we can.

"In this case, since this construction project began, we have been in constant dialogue with the owners of Mrs Atha's, other businesses on Central Road and the developers, setting up and attending stakeholder meetings to discuss how we could help over the life of the project.

"In addition, we have also installed city dressing banners promoting Central Road and provided street cafe licences free of charge as well as ensuring the developer has included business-as-usual messaging on site hoardings."

Mr Brownhill says an increase in business rates has been an extra blow to the businesses.

But a council spokesperson says business rates discounts for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses are set nationally by government.

"The last 18 months, two years has been a real uphill struggle, and I emailed the council earlier today to say we won't be paying any more business rates until the projects finish," says Mr Brownhill.

"And if they want to come and close us down that's their prerogative because we're not in a position to outlay that, we've struggled to operate at our highest standard because of the money we've been having to pay to the council and that's only going to get worse."

On nearby Kirkgate – one of Leeds's oldest streets – business owners have also been impacted by construction and road works.

Wapentake head chef Brian Hill says businesses on the road – which is partially closed due to damage caused by a building collapse last year – are concerned about their futures.

He says: "We have been affected by the state of the road because it's closed off. It's taken too long and something needs to be done about it. I really hope it gets done soon.

"But I don't blame the council, they're trying their hardest – it's landlords."

Mr Hill says he was sad to hear of the closure of Mrs Atha's, and is worried for the future of Leeds's café scene.

"That nearly was us. We've been saved twice," he says.

Next door, Doghouse Bar and Bagel Shop manager Cameron Bedford also says he is worried about independent businesses.

"A lot of the identity of Leeds is getting stripped out week by week with venues closing it seems like every other week," he says.

A council spokesperson says: "We do recognise the impact of construction work on local businesses, and we are committed to helping mitigate this wherever and however we can."

For Mrs Atha's, the wait for development work to be completed has been too long. But Mr Jones says he's at "peace" with the decision and believes the "future is bright".

"Granny Atha would be so proud of everything we have brought to her home town of Leeds," he says.

"I will never forget the smile on her face when she came on the opening day and she realised we had named the shop after her. These are the memories I will cherish."

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