A trader is threatening to chain herself to scaffolding outside the Tay Hotel to protest a road closure she fears could kill her business.
Susan Butchart, who runs The Dog Food Shop with husband Ian, is furious after a section of Dock Street closed to traffic this week to allow a programme of gas mains replacement work to get under way.
Susan says the shop, which sits on Dock Street, has already seen its profits plunge around 70% compared with the same period last year. She is in no doubt that disruption caused by the £1 billion waterfront redevelopment is to blame.
Now with the latest road closure to deal with, Susan fears the profit margin will become even tighter, and is angry at the absence of any consultation.
”The council have not notified us on what is happening there has been no signage warning that the work was to start,” said Susan. ”It’s getting to the point now that you don’t know what you are walking into when you turn up for work.”
The road is closed from the hotel’s southern facade to the westerly junction accessing Whitehall Crescent. Although motorists can still access the shop from the eastern side of Dock Street, Ian said customers are unsure about using this route.
The stretch of road is normally reserved for bikes, buses and taxis but the city council has put up signs advising motorists they can gain access to the shop.
Ian said: ”I can understand that the road has to be closed for gas mains repairs, but we are having customers call up and ask ‘can you deliver because we can’t get anywhere near your shop’.
”We have over half a ton of deliveries to go out but we can’t move them.”
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The couple are seeking clarification from the local authority and Tayside Police over whether or not their customers and delivery vans can drive to the front of the shop.
Susan said there had been confusion from the police who, she claims, said they would fine those driving on to the stretch of Dock Street despite this seemingly going against the council’s instruction.
Frustrated by this confusion Susan has vowed to chain herself to the outside of the hotel in a bid to cause ”as much disruption as possible” unless the matter is resolved.
She continued: ”We were told yesterday by Tayside Police traffic department that only buses, cycles and taxis are allowed after Crichton Street unless you are going Whitehall Crescent, and that there was still no entry into Dock Street.
”I called the police to get clarification because customers had been asking what to do, they don’t want to break the law. I asked was it legal for them to use the road and the police said no.”
However, clarification was later provided by Dundee City Council’s depute city development convener, Bill Campbell, who said access will be maintained to the shop.
”We have been consulting with businesses throughout the waterfront work and we always listen to their concerns,” he said. ”I would like to thank them for their patience during this time.
”The city council is continuing to talk to the Dog Food Shop as the work goes on. The waterfront is undergoing huge regeneration at the moment and we are sure that this will have great benefits for the city.”
Tayside Police also explained access to the shop will be maintained.
A spokeswoman said: ”Tayside Police is aware of recent vehicle access restrictions caused by ongoing works in Dock Street. Whilst normal restrictions will continue to be enforced, consideration for the exemption of vehicles attending at local businesses will be given where appropriate.”