One of Perth’s most popular “chippers” has suffered a 20% slump in business due to the closure of a bridge in Craigie, it has been claimed.
St Leonard’s Bridge, beside Craigie Cross has been closed since March to allow for essential work to replace footways and build new beams. It is set to reopen at about 7pm tonight a week ahead of schedule following the completion of repair work costing around £500,000.
Perth and Kinross Council decided that work was necessary mainly for safety reasons. One of the main problems faced by the local authority was that a small piece of concrete fell in 2011, so council chiefs decided it was time to replace the footways on St Leonard’s Bridge.
Traders and residents in Craigie were consulted about the works, with parking restrictions put in place along with diversions for both motorists and pedestrians.
The bridge, owned by Network Rail, is one of the main gateways into Perth city centre but Michael Clark, who runs the Fish ‘N’ Chip Co at Craigie Cross, told The Courier his business had been affected by the bridge closure, with takings 20% down on normal. He added he will be “glad to see the back” of the bridge work.
“We’re down 20% so it’s been a case of having to grin and bear it,” he said. “So, we’ll be glad to get back on the road and do some hard work to get the business back.”
However, he did acknowledge the work was necessary.
“It was a job well done and it needed to be done,” he said. “And they’re finishing a week early so you can’t argue too much.”
A public exhibition was held in October and this was followed up by another public exhibition in a shop at Craigie Cross in March, shortly before the four-month period of work began.
Councillor Alexander Stewart, one of the representatives of the Perth City South ward, agreed the work needed to be carried out but feels everyone will be looking forward to getting back to normal.
“There was a lot of anxiety before the bridge closed and some traders were unhappy but I’ve had no complaints from people,” he said.
“This has been done without too much disruption, although there has been some inconvenience to people. It will be good to get back to normal a resumption of things there.”
Mr Stewart said there had been a “bottleneck” of traffic in parts of Glasgow Road as a result of the bridge work and said the Craigie buses had to make a detour from their normal route.
However, he said he hoped the work had not affected the traders and shops in Craigie.
Councillor John Kellas, Perth and Kinross Council’s convener of enterprise and infrastructure, said he was pleased the bridge would be reopening.
“The necessary repair work ensures the safety of the bridge for both pedestrians and motorists and will help safeguard the future of the bridge,” he said.