Traders fear a downturn when Clifton road is closed for tram works
PARTS of a major road in Clifton will be closed for eight months due to tram works.
The £570m project to build new lines to Chilwell and Beeston via the Queen's Medical Centre and Clifton via Wilford is well under way.
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Bob Sherwin fears his garage could lose business when a stretch of the road is closed
The works in Southchurch Drive, Clifton, which involve moving pipes and cables, installing tracks and building tram stops, start on March 11.
The road will be closed to through-traffic, including buses, between the Swansdowne Drive and Green Lane junctions.
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The only traffic allowed will be vehicles delivering to shops and people going to Clifton Leisure Centre.
All shops, including Clifton Market, will be open as usual – but traders say they will still lose out.
Bob Sherwin, owner of car dealer Bob Sherwin Limited, said: "I dread to think what will happen to the business. I've been here more than 34 years and I am always busy.
"We have a good customer base but the closure will create a massive inconvenience to my customers.
"And if they decide to leave and go somewhere else they're very unlikely to come back.
"I can't predict in numbers how this is going to affect me, but it will hit us hard."
And Dean Kerry, who owns a stall on the road selling fruit and vegetables, said: "We won't have the through traffic, people getting on and off buses or driving through, stopping to get their bits and bobs.
"I think I will probably lose 30 to 40 per cent of our business."
Project director Chris Deas said: "We have thought carefully how best to undertake the main tram works in Clifton.
"Although it will not be possible to drive along the whole length of Southchurch Drive, including part of the main shopping area, a temporary shopper's car park and bus stops will be provided on Green Lane, close to the shops. Clifton Market will also be open as normal.
"The Clifton shops are predominantly for local people and, although there will be some disruption experienced, we are confident that the approach taken will ensure that people can continue to visit the shopping area. The partial closure has been designed to reduce the time necessary to carry out the works and ensures that Clifton centre can return to normal as quickly as possible."
Further information about the tram extension can be found at www.thetram.net/phasetwo.
14 Comments
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by soraya
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 10:42PM
“"Can anyone remember if Radford Road was closed in such a way when they put the tram through Hyson Green? I can't remember, but if it wasn't, why do they have to do it now in both in Chilwell & Clifton?""
Yes it was, and I would say nearly half the shops were boarded up by the end and recieved millions£ of taxpayer's money for 'regeneration', but this was stolen by diverse community leaders.”
by soraya
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 10:38PM
“Tramsasterous.”
by MR_B_NOTTM
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 8:20PM
“whilst this profitable tram line is laid!"
Tongue in cheek remark by any chance, lol....”
by NFFC1898
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 8:10PM
“Shurrup moaning you have all made a very good living out of the folk at Clifton I'm sure that you can get by whilst this profitable tram line is laid!”
by mof_gedling
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 5:27PM
“on the plus side this will get traders used to what its going to be like when all the shoppers head off to the big city to spend their money.”
by tank3
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 5:00PM
“Maybe if these so called workmen used a spade as much as they use their mobiles and don't keep stopping every 2 minutes for a fag break this work would get done in 2 month and not 8.”
by brorabrora
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 4:48PM
“Can anyone remember if Radford Road was closed in such a way when they put the tram through Hyson Green? I can't remember, but if it wasn't, why do they have to do it now in both in Chilwell & Clifton?”
by harrystotle1
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 2:42PM
“@Clifton Onion - If Jon Collins did nothing to get rid of Chris Gibson & Ian Malcolm after the mess they made of Trinity Square he's unlikely to do anything about the mess they're making of Clifton.
"If you always do what you always did.......you always get what you always got." That should be Jon Collins motto really.”
by the-crossed
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 2:27PM
“I own a small business which is thankfully not affected by the tram works but I really feel for the shops and businesses that are.
Its hard enough for many making a living these days without this long term disruption.
I live at Mapperley and hope to God we never get the tram up here!”
by theCLIFTONION
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 2:08PM
“Once again, we are subjected to a deafening silence from two of Clifton's most prominent local politicians, Councillors Ian Malcolm and Chris Gibson, on this decision to close that section of Southchurch Drive along the whole length of Clifton's main shopping area for a staggering 8-month period.
One of these gentlemen is currently Chairman of the City's Planning Committee, and the other Deputy Chairman of the same Committee, and have occupied these positions for many years now.
With their prominent and senior positions on the City Council, most people would have thought that they, above all others, would have strained every sinew to prevent this ridiculous situation developing.
The people of Clifton must hold these two 'invisible men' to account at every opportunity for their lack of action in this matter.”