‘Alley closure will hit trade’

The council has granted permission for a building owner to close the alleyway between Wood Street and Joiner Lane from next week to repair a basement.

Shop owners in Godwin Court said they rely on passing pedestrian trade from Wood Street and will be hit hard by the closure from next Monday to June 18 and again from July 3 to November 14.

Flames and Frames co-owner Mark Annetts said his shop had lost business during the two closures last year.

"Over the past 12 months we have had two closures and it does severely affect trade," Mr Annetts said.

"If they do close it off, they should put signposts up with alternative routes. If they have adequate signs, people won't just turn around and not come in.

"It's not just us but it also affects trade in Wood Street."

Atwell Martin sales negotiator Alex Hornby said a cut to the number of people walking past the shop window could be a lost sale.

"Every lead is a potential sale," Mr Hornby said.

"A diversion would be useful, or signs."

Made by You owner Pat Twidell said past closures had not greatly affected her business.

"It didn't affect us too much really because ours is a lot of specialist trade," Ms Twidell said. "It's not actually passing trade."

Coun Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) said he and council officers were meeting this week to discuss possible ways of keeping the alleyway open during the basement repairs.

He said one possibility was a temporary overground tunnel to protect pedestrians and workers during the repairs.

"The reason it's being done is a structural problem that needs to be put right," Coun Bawden said.

The alleyway closed for six weeks last April and May to allow contractors to carry out work.

It also closed in October 2004 for a month for council maintenance.

Some businesses said in 2003 that they had experienced a drop in takings when it came to the closure because many customers were not willing to take an indirect route.