Businesses on a historic South Belfast street have shared their fears amid the prospect of financial support after a road closure in the area has drastically reduced footfall.
It was announced earlier this week that a £200,000 funding scheme is being planned to support businesses in the Sandy Row area after a decline in trade following the closure of the Boyne Bridge. The bridge was closed in October 2024 for roadworks surrounding the new Grand Central Station, with traffic being diverted away from the neighbourhood.
There were protests held in November against the bridge's demoltion, as well as calls for local businesses to be compensated for a reduced footfall. It's expected that the whole Grand Central Station and wider Weaver's Cross development will be completed by the end of 2025.
Read more: Sandy Row businesses to receive financial support amid road closure trade drop
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Speaking to Belfast Live, a number of traders on Sandy Row have shared their fears for the future, highlighting the significant impact the bridge closure has had on their businesses over the past four months.
Sarah Teare owns Kut Above K9 Grooming, which opened in a unit on the road in 2019. In August, due to her business thriving, Sarah moved into a bigger unit further down the street.
However, she noticed a significant drop-off in business in the run-up to Christmas, and is now so worried her business won't be able to survive, she hasn't yet put her sign up outside.
Sarah said: "I was so busy and doing so well, we moved into this bigger premises in August. It's actually scary how quickly it's died down. I'm not that hopeful we'll be able to continue for much longer, I haven't even put my new sign up outside.
"Business was thriving and higher than it'd ever been, I hired an extra groomer, we moved into this bigger premises. Then it all just stopped - when the bridge closed it died down quickly.
"We had people booked in but they couldn't physically get here, they would just have to turn around. They would cancel on route and I couldn't charge people a cancellation fee when they're on their way."
Around Christmas, Sarah said she was struggling to the extent she would work 13 hour days just to keep the doors open. As for the prospect of a new funding scheme, she said: "We're trying to keep going. We have been told the new scheme can be used for the shop which is great.
"I just don't want to spend £700 on a new shop sign to be closed in two months. Everything else is going on the electric and rates.
"We're not getting the footfall of the city centre, but are being charged city centre rates. We would welcome any help at all, just something to try and keep us going. We have been here years and were thriving, but are now struggling - it's heartbreaking."
Across the street, Ceejay McDowell at Kirk's Home Bakery, a business that has been in the area for 30 years, said their footfall is down around 45% compared to this time last year. On an average day, he said the area is now like a "ghost town."
"The bridge closed in October and since then, in the lead up to Christmas, we noticed trade dying off a bit. Most days now we find ourselves really quiet, there's not much business. Footfall has really died down and due to diversions it reduces traffic coming through Sandy Row," Ceejay said.
"People in the community still come by and do their shopping, but it's impacted the business greatly. All of the businesses have been impacted. We've seen a 45% drop off compared to January and February last year.
"There's not much happening in the area, it's like a ghost town now. Two businesses have shut down since the bridge closed. We haven't had much communication about what's happening, but businesses need to be compensated."
Ceejay said traders are grateful for the new funding scheme, but added it is "too little too late." He said: "It's great to get help at any stage, but I think they've left it too late into the road closure now. There's 26 businesses up and down Sandy Row, and if the 200,000 is shared evenly, it'll work out around £20 per day each business will get."
However, he remains hopeful for the future and expects footfall to return after the works end. Ceejay added: "Ultimately when the road re-opens, footfall will come through Sandy Row again.
"They're going to bring the public realm works right up through here, so they'll be doing the likes of the footpaths up, so business will be impacted again when that happens as it'll be closed off. But the public realm work is good, and will help us in the long-run."
Paul McCann, a shop owner in the area, said the road closure and its impact on businesses is just one of the issues impacting Sandy Row. He said: "We've lost all trade here, the government won't listen to us or understand what's happening in the area.
"To me they're just throwing £200,000 at the area because of what they've done - they've destroyed the bridge, the city centre is coming into Sandy Row, bringing rates and rent prices up.
"The working class unionists are being pushed out of this area by rising rent prices and a lack of housing. My friends and family are all moving to other parts of the city. Our representatives are selling us out."
The newly announced revitalisation scheme follows on from an emergency taskforce set up at Belfast City Council last year in an effort to support local traders. Details of the scheme have not yet been finalised.
A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said: “Revitalisation Schemes normally follow on from the delivery of Public Realm Schemes and are a means, for example, to deliver improved building frontages, carry out additional cleansing, promote the area as a shopping destination and can also be used to assist in community-driven efforts to improve and sustain business.
“In relation to the negative impact being felt by businesses on Sandy Row, the Minister has approved the delivery of a Revitalisation Scheme in the Sandy Row area ahead of the proposed DfC public realm works.
"This scheme will be delivered by Belfast City Council for improvement to business premises in the Sandy Row area and funding will be subject to the department receiving a formal application for funding and business case appraisal.”
A Belfast City Council spokesperson added: “Council is continuing to engage with the Department for Communities with regard to a proposal for Revitalisation funding for the area. The details of the scheme have not yet been finalised.”
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