Shops 'devastated' by council work blocking access

Business owners have said they are feeling "devastated" as council works have stopped customers from visiting them.

Quay Corner coffee shop in Stockton, on Teesside, has seen the average number of Saturday customers drop from 30 a day to two, since a section of the Riverside Walk footpath closed last month.

The local authority is building a multimillion-pound urban park, Stockton Waterfront, which is expected to be completed in 2026.

Stockton Council said it was meeting regularly with businesses on Quayside Road to discuss how each phase might impact them, and support them.

One of the managing directors of Quay Corner, Joanne Horner, said she had been left "devastated, concerned and worried" by the situation.

A section of footpath between the Millennium and Riverside Road footbridges closed at the start of October.

Mrs Horner said her shop had been popular with walking groups, but a lengthy diversion had cut them off.

Fellow coffee shop managing director Paul Marriner said the situation had made him angry.

"Me and Joanne have put a lot of money and effort into this," he said.

A diversion takes people to the other side of the River Tees, but Mr Marriner said it was not just affecting regular visitors, but preventing disabled, older and potential customers from reaching them.

"We did a video [explaining the situation] but it's so complicated - the way they've got to walk - and there's just no other access to the coffee shop unless they walk another 20 minutes."

He said their neighbours, including a gym, a hairdressers and a boat tour agency, had also been affected.

The owners said they fully supported the development of the urban park, but financial help was needed now.

Mr Marriner said he would appreciate if the council could help the businesses affected with their rent for a minimum of a year.

"If it comes down to it, we might have to reduce staffing hours, or close the coffee shop a couple of days a week," he said.

"Our Saturday trade has been affected and we have had to close due to drastic lack of footfall."

Councillor Nigel Cooke said the authority was communicating and supporting businesses, but that there would be "inevitable disruption" caused by the "nationally significant development".

"The long-term benefit to businesses with increased footfall and enhanced opportunities in this area is set to be transformational", he said.

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