Comment: Traders deserve speedy repairs

Apr 10 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

IF THERE is any truth in the phrase, "No pain, no gain", then Liverpool city centre traders must be in line for a period of prosperity like no other. The rebirth of the city has certainly been painful for those whose businesses were unfortunate enough to fall within the cone-zone of the Big Dig.

That particular part of Liverpool’s roadworks is drawing to a close. But for traders based around Wood Street and Fleet Street, the roadworks nightmare is only just beginning.

Engineering works being carried out there have led to street closures amid fears for public safety.

Business leaders, police and United Utilities yesterday held an emergency meeting, after learning on Friday that emergency water-main work was forcing road closures until the end of the month.

It is an undeniable blow and traders are naturally horrified at the prospect of such disruption. However, this is vital work which has to be completed, and doing so quickly seems to make the fact of road closures unavoidable.

We can all sympathise with those traders who have to watch as customers turn around and head elsewhere after spotting "road closed" signs. But United Utilities seem to be making every effort to spare those firms who operate along these streets and should be commended for their swift action. It is to be hoped these roadworks will soon be nothing more than a bad memory, and party life along this thriving part of the city can get back to normal.

Meanwhile, there is some good news on the retail front in Liverpool. The swish Metquarter centre, in Whitechapel, today reports healthy year-on-year rises for both sales and footfall. Combined sales for all the stores in February was up 26% on the same period last year. Footfall – the number of people coming into the centre – was also up by 10%.

These figures are hopefully a sign of more good things to come. Next month Liverpool One opens, and over the next 12 months the cone nightmare should simply fade to a bad memory.