“If people are going to get back onto the high street and into our independent shops, we need to make it as straightforward as possible,” says the British Independent Retailer Association’s (Bira) ceo Andrew Goodacre. It’s why the Association is making a direct plea to Boris Johnson to stop unnecessary post-Covid road closures and to re-open high streets.
The findings of an exclusive members’ survey revealed that, of those affected by post-Covid road closures, 75% said trade had been detrimentally impacted, and more than half of those said they had been ‘significantly impacted’. Eighty per cent of the issues had been identified as happening ‘after lockdown’.
Kate Lacelles of Lavender Blue, a gift and homewares store in Market Harborough, comments: “Footfall has massively decreased due to road closures. There are no queues in our streets, just very low footfall numbers.”
Andrew confirmed that he had personally spoken to many Bira members who had expressed huge fears that their businesses will collapse if these measures are not stopped and, in many cases, reversed.
“Excess road closures, increased pedestrianisation and the loss of car parking spaces in recent months have become a real blight for independent retailers and their customers,” he states.
“While we want shoppers to be safe, and for there to be quality paths and cycle routes, the high street has to remain accessible to motorists and those using public transport. There needs to be short and longer stay parking at affordable prices, ideally with periods of free parking.
“Grant money and government-backed loans may have propped up businesses during lockdown but it will all be for nothing if people can’t actually get to the shops which have managed to survive so far.”
He added that the Association will be continually challenging local authorities who charge ahead with road closures in community high streets, particularly where the correct consultation process has not taken place.
“The road ahead maybe full of challenges, but we must make sure that the road remains open.”
Visit www.bira.co.uk
Top: Current road closures are having a detrimental effect on high street retailers.
